Mikaela Shiffrin Begins Equipment Testing at Copper Mountain Ahead of New Alpine Ski Season

Copper Mountain, CO – As the anticipation for the upcoming alpine skiing season intensifies, all eyes are once again on Mikaela Shiffrin, the most decorated alpine skier in history. With a staggering collection of World Cup titles, Olympic medals, and record-setting performances, Shiffrin has returned to Copper Mountain to commence one of the most critical phases of her preparation: equipment testing.

For elite ski racers like Shiffrin, the early-season period isn’t merely about conditioning or fine-tuning form—it’s about the search for precision. Every hundredth of a second counts, and equipment choices can mean the difference between a podium finish and disappointment. At Copper Mountain, which boasts a unique combination of high altitude, early-season snow reliability, and dedicated training lanes for professional athletes, Shiffrin is undergoing intensive testing of skis, boots, bindings, and other gear elements. This testing ensures she’s equipped with the optimal setup for different snow conditions, course styles, and disciplines she will face in the coming season.

Shiffrin, who has remained relatively quiet during the offseason following another record-breaking World Cup campaign, is known for her meticulous approach to preparation. According to insiders close to her team, the focus this year is on dialing in gear for both technical events—slalom and giant slalom—and the speed disciplines—super-G and downhill—where she has increasingly demonstrated her versatility. Working closely with her equipment technicians, Shiffrin tests multiple pairs of skis from her long-time ski manufacturer, analyzing subtle changes in ski construction, flex patterns, and edge profiles.

The conditions at Copper Mountain offer the ideal setting for such evaluations. The hard, grippy snow simulates the icy World Cup tracks of Europe and North America, allowing athletes to feel the responsiveness and control of their setups under realistic racing conditions. Shiffrin spends long hours each day making repetitive runs, recording data, reviewing video analysis, and communicating with her coaching and equipment team. Every piece of feedback is documented and studied to ensure that when the race gates drop this winter, she will have total confidence in her gear.

Despite her dominant career, Shiffrin is acutely aware of the evolving competitive landscape. Younger athletes continue to rise through the ranks, and equipment technology is advancing rapidly. Staying at the top means constantly adapting, evolving, and improving. This pre-season period at Copper is as much about maintaining her edge as it is about innovation. Small adjustments—a slightly stiffer boot cuff, a new binding plate, or modified ski tuning—can yield significant performance gains across a World Cup season that spans diverse terrain and unpredictable weather.

In recent seasons, Shiffrin has also expanded her repertoire to include more downhill and super-G races, which require different gear setups compared to the tighter, more technical events. Her team juggles configurations across different disciplines, carefully selecting combinations that maximize speed, stability, and responsiveness. The goal is to find a “quiver” of skis that she can trust at every venue from Lake Louise to Cortina d’Ampezzo, from Killington to Åre.

The Copper Mountain camp also marks a mental and emotional checkpoint. After a summer of rest, recovery, and general conditioning, returning to the snow represents a shift in focus. Shiffrin’s discipline and mental fortitude have always been trademarks of her career. This period of intense but controlled training enables her to reconnect with the rhythm of skiing, refine muscle memory, and reignite competitive fire.

Though media access is limited during these closed training sessions, occasional social media updates from Shiffrin and her sponsors offer glimpses into the work being done. One recent video showed her rocketing through slalom gates with precision and power, suggesting she’s on pace to start the season strong.

As the FIS Alpine World Cup calendar approaches its first major events, fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see how Shiffrin’s equipment choices translate into performance on the hill. If past seasons are any indication, the dedication she shows during this crucial prep phase will be a key factor in what promises to be another thrilling chapter in her legendary career.

In the snowy silence of Copper Mountain, Mikaela Shiffrin isn’t just skiing—she’s crafting the tools that could shape yet another unforgettable winter.