The slopes of Copper Mountain are set to sizzle with the World Cup ski racing action returning for a four-day stint, and Mikaela Shiffrin is stealing the limelight. According to 9NEWS, the event, spanning from Thursday to Sunday, marks a highly anticipated home-state race for the Olympic champion Shiffrin, whose last races in Colorado were in 2017.
Kicking off the men's competition with a super G race on Thursday and downhill on Friday, the return of World Cup ski racing to Copper Mountain after several years has spectators revving with excitement. Embarking on this weekend's challenge, Shiffrin is set to compete in the giant slalom on Saturday and slalom on Sunday, where she has dominated the field, winning 10 of her last 12 starts, as noted by NBC Sports. Despite her impressive streak, Shiffrin's giant slalom performance on Oct. 25 was her best since a crash in November 2024, putting her fourth in the rankings.
Free parking is anticipated to be available at the Alpine lot, and transportation options are being beefed up to accommodate the influx of fans to the area. Olivia Butrymovich from Copper Mountain elaborated on their efforts in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), stating, "We've been working with CDOT to look at new ways that we can get people up here, where we wouldn't traditionally get them up here this time of year," as obtained by 9NEWS. Spectators can also make use of increased Summit Stage bus service and Snowstang buses to and from Denver over the weekend.
For those who can't make it to the snowy peaks of Copper Mountain, the Stifel Copper Cup will be covered on NBC Sports and Peacock. Shiffrin, vying for another victory, won her first two slalom races this season with dominating margins. Ready to compete is also Shiffrin's fiancé, Norway's Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who might make a grand comeback to racing after sustaining injuries in a January 2024 crash, according to NBC Sports. While viewers can catch a glimpse of their favourite skiers from the comfort of their couches, there's no denying that the electric atmosphere of Copper Mountain remains unparalleled.
Meanwhile, fellow American Paula Moltzan is expected to pose a formidable challenge. Moltzan has been ascending the World Cup rankings, nabbing a runner-up finish in Soelden, Austria, on Oct. 25 and securing a bronze at last February's World Championships, as chronicled by KWWL. With such an array of talent, Copper Mountain is braced for a weekend of riveting ski races sure to keep spectators on the edge of their seats.
