Mikaela Shiffrin responds to backlash over Semmering course alteration

Mikaela Shiffrin’s latest appearance in the World Cup slalom at Semmering, Austria, added yet another victory to her extraordinary career, but the result was quickly overshadowed by controversy surrounding the course setup and the events that unfolded ahead of the second run.

The American star claimed her 106th World Cup win on the Zauberberg slope, yet the discussion afterward focused less on her performance and more on accusations of preferential treatment, concerns about fairness, and broader questions over athlete safety. What should have been a celebration of elite skiing instead sparked debate among competitors, coaches, and national federations.

The Slalom podium at Semmering: Mikaela Shiffrin 1st, Camille Rast 2nd, Lara Colturi 3rd. | Image: FIS Alpine IG

The controversy emerged during inspection before the second run. Shiffrin, who was sitting fourth after the opening run, identified a section of the course that she believed was unsafe and potentially impossible to ski properly. According to reports from Eurosport, she raised her concerns with FIS officials as well as several team coaches, warning that the section posed a significant risk to athletes.

Race organizers ultimately agreed with the assessment and made changes to the course, citing safety reasons. However, it was not the decision itself that caused the uproar, but rather the timing. By the time officials altered the problematic section, nearly every athlete had already completed their inspection. Only Shiffrin and Latvia’s Dzenifera Germane had yet to inspect the course when the modification was made.

As a result, Shiffrin was able to spend additional time examining the revised section. In total, she remained on the course for around 11 minutes longer than normally permitted during inspection. Under standard regulations, this could have opened the door to a disqualification. Instead, officials chose to extend the inspection window by 15 minutes for all competitors.

While the extension was intended to restore balance, many athletes and teams argued that it did not go far enough. With only a short amount of extra time and no opportunity to physically re-inspect the altered section, some racers felt they were at a disadvantage. Although FIS circulated a video of the changed section to all teams, critics claimed that video footage was no substitute for an in-person inspection on such a technical and deteriorating surface.

Swiss skier Camille Rast, who had led after the first run and ultimately finished second, just 0.09 seconds behind Shiffrin, was openly unhappy with how the situation was handled. Speaking after the race, she expressed frustration, saying it was unfair that the course was changed after inspections had already taken place. In her view, conditions and preparation should be identical for every athlete.

Swiss-Ski later confirmed that it had seriously considered filing an official protest. Women’s head coach Beat Tschuor explained that discussions were held internally, but officials ultimately decided against pursuing formal action. According to Tschuor, FIS had provided clear explanations, and any protest would likely have been rejected. Even so, he made it clear that he was dissatisfied with the precedent the situation appeared to set.

“It was important for me to send a message that this is not okay,” Tschuor said. “Fairness has to apply to everyone.”

Not all reactions were as strong. Austrian alpine director Christian Mitter acknowledged that the process had not been ideal but urged observers not to lose sight of the sporting performance. He played down claims of favoritism, explaining that the adjustment was not a major alteration to the course but a correction of a variation that had become dangerous. According to Mitter, the decision followed consultation with coaches and was driven purely by safety concerns rather than competitive considerations.

Beyond the inspection controversy, the course itself was widely criticized throughout the field. Warm weather and changing snow conditions caused the surface to break down rapidly during the first run, particularly for later starters. The impact was stark: 39 of the 79 athletes failed to finish the opening run, an unusually high attrition rate for a World Cup slalom. Another six skiers did not complete the second run, bringing the total number of DNFs and disqualifications to 45.

The time gaps further highlighted how extreme the conditions had become. A deficit of around six seconds was still enough to qualify for the second run, underlining the difficulty of the slope and the uneven challenge faced by athletes depending on start number.

Mikaela Shiffrin claimed her 106th World Cup victory at Semmering but drew criticism for receiving an unfair advantage. | Image: FIS Alpine IG

In the aftermath, Shiffrin found herself at the center of the debate. In a detailed statement posted on social media, she rejected the suggestion that her actions were motivated by a desire to gain a competitive advantage. Instead, she framed the situation as a failure of preparation and planning that should never have escalated to that point.

“The change that was made by FIS was necessary for safety,” Shiffrin wrote, “but it should have been addressed before inspection opened—not while athletes were already on the course. That’s what led to confusion, delays, and questions about fairness.”

She acknowledged the frustration felt by other competitors and described the entire episode as reactive rather than proactive. According to Shiffrin, the problem lay not in the decision to modify the course, but in the fact that safety concerns had not been properly identified and resolved earlier.

Shiffrin also revealed that several athletes had spoken to her privately before the race, expressing how unsettled they felt. Some, she said, were frustrated, shaken, and even scared after seeing the condition of the slope. From her perspective, raising the issue was about protecting athletes, not influencing results.

While congratulating Rast and third-placed Lara Colturi on their performances, Shiffrin was candid in her assessment of the event as a whole. She described the race as “not a good representation of our sport” and pointed to the exceptionally high DNF rate—reportedly the highest in a women’s World Cup slalom since 1999—as evidence that the balance between challenge and safety had been lost.

“This sport is beautiful,” she wrote, “and we need to make sure course sets work with the surface conditions so racing is safe, fair, and meaningful.”

Colturi publicly supported Shiffrin’s comments, backing her stance in the comments section of the post. However, there was noticeable silence from several Swiss and Austrian athletes, including Rast, highlighting lingering tension around the incident.

As the women’s World Cup continues into the new year, the Semmering slalom serves as a cautionary example. While Shiffrin once again proved her resilience and brilliance under pressure, the controversy surrounding the event has renewed calls for FIS to improve course preparation, decision-making processes, and communication. If lessons are learned, the hope is that future races in the 2025–26 season can showcase the sport at its best—without safety concerns or questions of fairness overshadowing the competition.

Mikaela Shiffrin calls out dangerous conditions after Austrian slalom win

Mikaela Shiffrin did not hold back in her assessment of the conditions at the Semmering Audi FIS Ski World Cup after claiming yet another dominant slalom victory in Austria.

The American superstar secured her sixth consecutive World Cup slalom win on Sunday, December 28, marking her fifth slalom triumph of the current season. While the achievement further underlined her remarkable consistency and form, the post-race discussion was dominated less by celebration and more by concern over what Shiffrin described as unsafe racing conditions.

Unseasonably mild weather created major challenges for race organisers in Semmering. In an effort to prepare a competitive surface, officials attempted to firm up the course by injecting water and salt into the snow ahead of the race. Despite those measures, the slope deteriorated significantly during the afternoon run, which began at 2:15pm. Several sections of the course broke apart, creating ruts and uneven surfaces that made conditions increasingly unpredictable for the athletes.

Although the snow hardened somewhat by the time the evening session began, the damage from the earlier run had already taken its toll. The severity of the conditions was reflected in the race statistics. Out of 77 competitors who started the first run, only 40 managed to reach the finish line. A near 50 percent DNF rate is highly unusual at this level and highlighted just how demanding — and risky — the course had become. The difficulty was further emphasised by the almost six-second cutoff required to qualify for the second run, another indicator of how challenging the slope was.

Shiffrin addressed these concerns immediately after the race in her media interviews, making it clear that safety should remain the sport’s top priority. However, she expanded on her thoughts the following day. On Monday, December 29, she released a detailed statement on social media in which she expressed frustration with how the situation had been handled.

In her statement, Shiffrin explained that certain issues with the course should have been identified and resolved before athletes began their inspection. Instead, changes were made while racers were already on the hill, which caused confusion, delayed inspections, and raised questions about consistency and fairness. She stressed that her comments were not about gaining a competitive edge, but about ensuring that all athletes were given the same opportunity to inspect and race on a properly prepared course.

The 28-year-old also made it clear that she feels a responsibility to speak out when athlete safety is compromised. She emphasised that remaining silent in such situations would not lead to progress and expressed hope that open discussions could result in meaningful improvements for future events.

Despite the controversy, Shiffrin struck a reflective and appreciative tone to close her message. She thanked fans for their continued support and reiterated her approach of taking the season one race at a time. Acknowledging the intensity of the campaign and the challenges that come with it, she expressed gratitude for the chance to compete and experience the unique beauty of alpine skiing.

While her latest win added another chapter to an already historic career, Shiffrin’s comments served as a reminder that success does not outweigh safety. Her willingness to speak candidly about dangerous conditions reinforces her role not only as the sport’s most accomplished athlete, but also as one of its most influential voices.

Why Shiffrin labelled the Semmering course unsafe after another win

Mikaela Shiffrin once again demonstrated her dominance in women’s slalom skiing by extending her remarkable winning run at Semmering, Austria, but the American star made it clear that the victory came with serious concerns about safety. While Shiffrin celebrated another milestone in her glittering career, she was equally vocal in criticising course conditions that she felt placed many athletes in unnecessary danger.

Racing on Sunday in Semmering, Shiffrin secured what marked her sixth consecutive slalom victory when counting the end of last season, and her fifth in a row since the current World Cup campaign began. Over two runs, she delivered the fastest combined time, finishing ahead of Switzerland’s Camille Rast in second place and Albania’s Lara Colturi, who completed the podium in third. The result further cemented Shiffrin’s position as the leading force in the discipline this winter.

The win carried additional significance given what Shiffrin endured last season. A serious oblique muscle injury sidelined her for a stretch of the winter, interrupting her rhythm and forcing her to watch from the sidelines as others competed. Returning to such consistent winning form so soon after that setback underlined not only her technical brilliance but also her resilience and determination.

However, the celebratory mood was tempered by Shiffrin’s frank assessment of the course in Semmering. Speaking after the race, she did not shy away from criticising the conditions, stating plainly that she believed the slope was unsafe—particularly for those starting later in the order. While she acknowledged that the surface posed little problem for her own run early in the field, she stressed that conditions deteriorated significantly for others.

Shiffrin explained that racers with higher bib numbers faced a very different challenge. Athletes starting further back, including those with bibs in the teens and even into the 60s, encountered a track that had broken down badly. In her view, that situation was unacceptable at the highest level of competition, where fairness and safety should be paramount.

The statistics from the race appeared to support her concerns. Out of 79 competitors, 39 failed to finish the first run alone. When DNFs from the second run were also taken into account, broadcasters reported that the event recorded the highest non-finish rate at a World Cup slalom since data tracking began in 1999. Such numbers highlighted just how treacherous the conditions were across the field.

Organisers had attempted to stabilise the slope following a period of warm weather by injecting the surface with water and salt. Despite those efforts, the course broke apart in multiple sections as the race progressed. According to reports, conditions only began to improve later as temperatures dropped, but by then many athletes had already been forced out of contention.

Shiffrin revealed that she was far from alone in her assessment. Conversations among the athletes painted a picture of widespread anxiety, particularly during the opening run. Many racers found the course intimidating and unpredictable, with ruts and deteriorating snow making it difficult to ski aggressively or with confidence.

For Shiffrin, this was deeply disappointing, not only as a competitor but as someone who cares about the sport’s image. She expressed regret that fans were unable to watch a full field perform at their best. Instead, only a handful of early starters were able to showcase clean, flowing runs before the course degraded. In her view, this undermined the beauty of alpine skiing and the spectacle it should provide.

Despite the controversy, Shiffrin’s performance ensured she maintained her position at the top of the overall women’s World Cup standings. Her consistency across events has given her a healthy advantage, and she now stands on the brink of another personal milestone. With six consecutive slalom victories spanning the end of last season and the start of this one, she is just one win away from matching her career-best streak of seven in a row—a mark she has already reached twice before.

Her current run includes victory in the final slalom of last season at Sun Valley, Idaho, which carried over seamlessly into this winter’s competitions. That continuity speaks volumes about her form and focus, particularly given the physical challenges she faced not long ago.

Looking ahead, Shiffrin will have an opportunity to reach that seven-win benchmark again when the women’s World Cup slalom circuit resumes on January 4, 2026, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. While attention will naturally focus on whether she can extend her streak, the conversation sparked in Semmering about course safety is likely to continue as well.

In the end, Shiffrin’s latest triumph was both a celebration of excellence and a reminder of the responsibilities that come with hosting elite-level competition. Her willingness to speak out underscored her role not just as a champion skier, but as a leading voice advocating for fairness and safety within the sport.

How Mikaela Shiffrin Battled Harsh Conditions and Heavy Pressure to Secure Another World Cup Slalom Victory

Mikaela Shiffrin was given more inspection time than the other racers before her winning run at Semmering.
Keystone

Mikaela Shiffrin once again proved why she remains the benchmark in women’s alpine skiing, delivering another standout performance during the 2025–26 FIS World Cup season. The American star added yet another victory to her growing list of achievements by winning the slalom event in Semmering, Austria, marking her sixth straight World Cup win overall and her fifth consecutive triumph this season.

United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin smiles after winning an alpine ski, women’s World Cup slalom in Semmering, Austria, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)

At 30 years old, Shiffrin continues to dominate the sport with remarkable consistency. However, despite standing atop the podium yet again, the victory was far from straightforward. In the aftermath of the race, Shiffrin made it clear that the challenging conditions significantly dampened her satisfaction with the result.

A Win Earned the Hard Way

The Semmering slalom presented competitors with some of the most demanding conditions of the season. Unseasonably difficult weather forced race organizers to intervene by adding water and salt to the course in an attempt to preserve the snow surface. Rather than stabilizing the track, the measures had the opposite effect as the day progressed.

By the afternoon session, the snow began to deteriorate rapidly, breaking apart under the skis of competitors and leading to multiple delays. The uneven surface created dangerous conditions, increasing the risk of crashes and forcing many athletes to abandon their runs altogether.

Shiffrin, who navigated the course successfully, later acknowledged that the circumstances were mentally and physically draining. Speaking to local media after the race, she openly criticized the event organization, emphasizing the safety concerns faced by the athletes.

“It was a very challenging and distracting day,” Shiffrin said in comments reported by The Guardian. “My understanding is there were no big injuries, but the way the surface was breaking… the second run was a bit better, for sure, but I am frustrated with how that went for these women.”

Her remarks reflected broader concerns within the field, as only 40 of the 77 skiers who started the opening run managed to reach the finish line. Frequent interruptions disrupted rhythm and focus, making it difficult for athletes to perform at their best.

Maintaining Composure Under Pressure

Despite the chaos surrounding the event, Shiffrin showcased the composure that has defined her career. She managed to block out the distractions, adapt her technique to the deteriorating snow, and deliver two strong runs when it mattered most.

Her victory was anything but comfortable. Swiss skier Camille Rast, the reigning world champion, pushed Shiffrin to the limit and finished just 0.09 seconds behind her in second place. Albanian teenager Lara Colturi completed the podium with an impressive third-place finish, continuing her rise on the World Cup circuit.

Shiffrin’s ability to perform under such testing circumstances highlighted not only her technical mastery but also her mental resilience—qualities that have allowed her to sustain success across more than a decade at the top of the sport.

Strengthening Her Olympic Momentum

The Semmering win further extended Shiffrin’s lead in both the overall World Cup standings and the slalom discipline rankings. With the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics scheduled for early February next year, the timing of her peak form could not be better.

Shiffrin enters the Olympic cycle with a résumé that already includes two Olympic gold medals and one silver. Earlier this year, she also captured a team combined gold medal at the 2025 World Championships, reinforcing her status as one of the most accomplished skiers in history.

However, the upcoming Olympics carry special significance for the American star. The 2022 Beijing Winter Games were a rare disappointment in her otherwise glittering career. Multiple early exits meant her best result was a fourth-place finish in the women’s team combined event, leaving her without an individual medal.

Those missed opportunities have clearly fueled her motivation heading into Milano Cortina. Each World Cup victory not only strengthens her confidence but also sharpens her competitive edge as she seeks redemption on the Olympic stage.

Looking Ahead

While the Semmering slalom added another trophy to Shiffrin’s collection, it also reignited conversations about athlete safety and race management in challenging weather. Her willingness to speak out underscored her role not just as a champion, but as a leading voice within the sport.

For now, Shiffrin’s focus remains firmly on performance. As the World Cup season progresses, she continues to set the pace, combining experience, adaptability, and relentless determination. If her current form is any indication, she will arrive at the Milano Cortina Olympics as one of the clear favorites—ready to reclaim Olympic glory and further cement her legacy as one of alpine skiing’s all-time greats.