Photos show Mikaela Shiffrin and the U.S. Women’s Speed Ski Team making the most of the heavy April snowfall at Mammoth Mountain, CA.

For most skiers, thoughts of skiing by the middle of May usually revolve around adventurous springtime missions in high alpine terrain. Many enthusiasts begin searching for steep north-facing couloirs that still hold quality snow deep into late spring, while others look toward glacier descents on peaks such as Mount Rainier and other towering Cascade volcanoes that continue offering skiable conditions long after winter has officially ended.

Mikaela Shiffrin put in a few more laps at Mammoth Mountain in the end of April. | Photo: Cody Matheson and Mammoth Mountain

However, for members of the U.S. Ski Team, the focus has already shifted well beyond spring skiing and toward preparations for the upcoming competitive season. While recreational skiers are squeezing in a few final turns before summer, elite athletes are already beginning the long process of building momentum for the next World Cup campaign.

That preparation recently brought several members of the U.S. women’s speed skiing squad to Mammoth Mountain, where exceptional late-season snow conditions created a rare and valuable training opportunity during the final days of April.

Among the athletes taking part in the training sessions were American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, alongside fellow racers Breezy Johnson, Allison Mollin and Keely Cashman. The group used the impressive snowpack at Mammoth Mountain to complete a series of early off-season training runs before transitioning into their summer conditioning programs.

The conditions at Mammoth proved to be especially attractive because the resort experienced one of the snowiest Aprils in its recorded history. In fact, this year marked the 12th snowiest April ever documented at the famous California ski destination, creating excellent coverage and winter-like conditions far later into the season than usual.

For elite speed skiers, opportunities to train on high-quality snow this late in spring are incredibly important. Maintaining time on skis while conditions remain strong allows athletes to continue refining technique, rhythm and confidence before beginning dryland and fitness-focused summer preparation.

Normally, the U.S. women’s speed team conducts much of its spring and summer training at Copper Mountain, which has long served as a reliable training base for American ski racers due to its altitude and consistent snow preservation efforts. Copper Mountain is widely recognised as one of the premier training venues for competitive alpine skiing in the United States.

This year, however, Mammoth Mountain’s unusually deep snow totals provided a compelling alternative. The resort received approximately 48 inches of snowfall during April at the Main Lodge area alone, while higher elevations near the summit accumulated an even more impressive 74 inches throughout the month.

Those conditions created an ideal environment for the athletes to continue working on their speed-event preparation while also enjoying the unique experience of skiing beneath California’s warm spring sunshine. The combination of abundant snow coverage and clear weather offered nearly perfect training circumstances during a period when many ski areas across North America are already winding down operations for the season.

The training camp also highlighted Mammoth Mountain’s reputation as one of the few major ski resorts in the United States capable of sustaining high-quality conditions deep into spring. Thanks to its elevation, geography and strong snowfall totals, the resort frequently extends operations later than many other destinations around the country.

While most ski resorts begin closing lifts in April, Mammoth continues drawing skiers and snowboarders well into May and sometimes beyond, particularly during stronger snow years.

This season will be no different, as lifts at Mammoth Mountain are scheduled to continue operating through Memorial Day Weekend, allowing visitors additional opportunities to enjoy late-season skiing and snowboarding under sunny California skies.

For Shiffrin and her teammates, the sessions at Mammoth represented more than simply taking advantage of lingering winter conditions. The camp formed part of the broader preparation process required to remain competitive at the highest level of alpine skiing, where even small improvements can make a crucial difference once the World Cup season begins again.

The presence of athletes such as Mikaela Shiffrin also underscores the importance of maximising every available training window. Widely regarded as one of the greatest alpine skiers of all time, Shiffrin’s relentless approach to preparation has been a major factor behind her extraordinary success across multiple disciplines.

By using Mammoth’s rare late-April powder totals to extend on-snow training, the U.S. women’s speed team gained a valuable head start before turning attention fully toward summer workouts, conditioning and long-term preparations for the upcoming race season.

With deep snow still blanketing the slopes and sunshine filling the Sierra Nevada skies, Mammoth Mountain once again proved why it remains one of America’s premier spring skiing destinations.

Allison Mollin is still going fast. | Photo: Cody Matheson and Mammoth Mountain

Keely Cashman putting in work towards next season. | Photo: Cody Matheson and Mammoth Mountain

The U.S. Ski Team took advantage of plenty of fresh snow that fell in April. | Photo: Cody Matheson and Mammoth Mountain

If you think spring skiing is slow, think again. | Photo: Cody Matheson and Mammoth Mountain

Mikaela Shiffrin is already thinking about next season. | Photo: Cody Matheson and Mammoth Mountain

Post-season training or pre-pre-season for Shiffrin and the team?| Photo: Cody Matheson and Mammoth Mountain