Mikaela Shiffrin continued her relentless assault on the history books Tuesday night, claiming her 105th career World Cup victory in the season’s first floodlit slalom at Courchevel, France. The win marks a perfect four-for-four start in slalom for the American this season, further cementing her status as the most dominant force in alpine skiing.
Competing on the challenging Stade Émile Allais, Shiffrin was in a league of her own. She clocked the fastest time in both heats, building a formidable 0.83-second lead in the opening run before stretching the final margin to a massive 1.55 seconds. The victory extends her lead in the FIS overall standings and keeps her undefeated in her specialist discipline for the 2025–26 campaign.
Pushing the Limits Under the Lights
Despite the appearance of effortless grace, Shiffrin admitted that maintaining such high standards requires an aggressive mentality. When asked about the secret to her double-digit winning margins, the double Olympic champion emphasized the intensity of the competition.
“I’m just pushing. I’m not asking questions,” Shiffrin said. “Sometimes you’ve just got to take it and roll with it, because these women are pushing—they’re pushing like hell—and so I have to push too. It’s a wonder that I made it to the finish this time.”
The demanding conditions in Courchevel proved treacherous for much of the elite field. High-profile contenders, including Germany’s Lena Duerr and Albania’s rising star Lara Colturi, were among those who failed to finish (DNF) as the icy surface caught out several veterans.
Rast and Aicher Battle for the Podium
While Shiffrin checked out at the front, the battle for the remaining podium spots was fierce. Switzerland’s Camille Rast, the reigning slalom world champion, displayed impressive resilience to secure second place. It was Rast’s second podium of the winter, following a third-place finish in Gurgl, proving she remains Shiffrin’s most consistent challenger.
Germany’s Emma Aicher continued her remarkable multi-discipline form by claiming third. Aicher’s podium comes just days after her stunning downhill victory in St. Moritz on December 13, showcasing a rare ability to transition from high-speed gravity events to the technical intricacies of slalom.
The top five was rounded out by Austria’s Katharina Truppe in fourth and American teammate Paula Moltzan, who delivered a strong fifth-place performance for Team USA.
Eyes on the Future: Recovery and Technical Refinement
With the first half of the December block concluded, Shiffrin is looking to diversify her training before the new year. Despite her slalom dominance, she remains focused on the “long game,” specifically improving her Giant Slalom (GS) and Super G results.
“I have some work I want to accomplish in GS,” Shiffrin noted, citing her recent Super G outing in St. Moritz as a positive step forward. However, after a grueling nine-week stretch on the road, the world number one is prioritizing rest. “It’s time for a little bit of recovery as well.”
The World Cup circuit now takes a short festive break. Shiffrin will return to the snow on December 28 in Semmering, Austria, where she will look to extend her winning streak to five.