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The sun is shining, the thermometer fluctuates around 25 degrees. Who thinks about skiing? Including Mikaela Shiffrin (28, USA). No wonder, because in two weeks the new season will start with the traditional season opening on the Rettenbach Glacier above Sölden. There is still no sign of natural snow there. “I have no doubt that they will master the slopes well – they always do. But there is currently no place where we can train,” said the 88-time World Cup winner at the Atomic Media Day in Altenmarkt (Austria). She immediately corrects herself – the glaciers in Saas-Fee and the Pitztal are options, as is the Stelvio Pass. But Shiffrin is concerned with fundamental issues. “There needs to be a profound change in skiing. Should we do it now? I do not think so.”
Enjoy snow when it comes
It is no coincidence that the best female ski racer of all time is positioning herself so clearly. The winner of the ESPY Awards (World’s Best Athlete 2023) has long been voicing her opinions on controversial topics. Climate change falls into this category.
“We athletes are here because we are training for the first World Cup race of the season. But I wouldn’t tell anyone to go to Switzerland, Austria or Italy in October to have fun on a glacier.”
Ultimately it’s about the accessibility of the snow and skiing. “People don’t enjoy our sport now, but they do in the winter when there is snow. Then you can enjoy it.”
Meeting the ski legend left her speechless
Shiffrin is also ready for the season. During her preparation, she has placed more emphasis than usual on downhill and super-G, as she wants to continue improving in these disciplines.
Shiffrin said she had a lot of fun last winter, dominating the technical disciplines. The result? Shiffrin also won the overall World Cup in excellent fashion, almost 1000 points ahead of second place Lara Gut-Behrami (32) from Ticino. “My goal is to experience exactly this fun again next season.”
Shiffrin was especially impressed by a meeting with ski legend Hermann Maier (50) last Wednesday. ‘I almost fainted when I met him. My childhood idol may have been Bode Miller, but Hermann was an incredible athlete. I really admire how he overcame countless difficulties on and off the slopes. Just awesome.”
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
