Levi: All I Want for Christmas is...Number 41, En Route to Number Seven?

As we were heading to visit her reindeer from 2013, aptly named “Rudolph,” two-time Olympic champion, five-time World Champion and reigning overall, super-G, giant slalom, and slalom World Cup champion Mikaela Shiffrin says, “For the first time in what seems like years, Levi feels like a winter wonderland. There’s SO much snow.” At that very moment, Laplanders zoomed by on a cross-country trail to our right - making it seem like a normal mode of transport here in Levi, Finland (actually, it kind of is). Mikaela’s focus remained on what was in front of her, though: a baby reindeer who has not yet been named, and accompanying slalom victory number 41. 

First of all, let’s talk about Lapland, Finland’s northernmost region. Santa Claus literally lives here (not kidding - his house is skiing distance from the top of the gondola, left one minute), the elves' hideaway - Tonttula - is about a 10-minute drive away, when it’s clear the Northern Lights come out to play, and people commute via ski or reindeer and sled. It's a sparsely populated, yet magical area bordering Sweden, Norway, Russia, and the Baltic Sea. It’s known for its vast subarctic wilderness, ski resorts and natural phenomena including the midnight sun and the Northern Lights. It’s also the homeland of the indigenous Sami people.

When Mikaela kicks out of the start gate on Saturday, she will kick off her bid towards a seventh slalom World Cup title, and when she does, she’ll be on the cusp of making history. Yes, you read that right - AGAIN! Mikaela is currently tied with the legendary Swede Ingemar Stenmark, for the all-time slalom win record (40). If you know Mikaela, you know she’s never been one to be motivated by records, or one to focus on the numbers. Even though Santa will be present, Mikaela will likely not be asking for win number 41. She wants to earn win number 41 - fair and square. 

To say the odds look good, would be an understatement, as the last 20 women’s World Cup slalom races were either won by Mikaela (16) or Slovakia’s Petra Vlhová. Mikaela has recorded a top-two finish in 19 of the last 20 women's World Cup slalom races, including in each of the last 11, with the only exception a DNF in Lenzerheide, Switzerland on Jan. 28, 2018. Yes, the odds look supreme. With her Levi victories in 2013 (Rudolph), Sven (2016), and Mr. Gru (2018), Mikaela can become the first alpine skier to win four World Cup races in the winter wonderland. She now shares the record of three with Maria Höfl-Riesch and Marcel Hirscher. 

Mikaela will not only have to fend off her rival Slovakian Petra, but the Swiss Wendy Holdener as well. The two have a notorious podium relationship - one that Wendy is determined to turn the tides on, though. Wendy has collected 22 World Cup podium finishes in slalom, but has yet to claim her first victory. This stands as the current record for most World Cup podiums in a single event without winning, four more than the previous record by Hubert Strolz (18) in the men's giant slalom. In the final slalom of the 2019 season in Soldeu, Andorra, the victory slipped through Wendy’s fingers when, after having had the lead after the first run, she finished second to Mikaela by a mere .07 seconds. For Switzerland, their World Cup-winning drought of 154 races in the women's slalom is their longest in any event. "Sendy Wendy" wants to change that. 

Meanwhile, back in Levi near the team's hotel, Mikaela visited with her reindeer Rudolph - the other two were back at the farm - and met this year’s male baby reindeer. When asked in 2016 by CNN why she named the first reindeer “Rudolph,” she replied, “because then everybody knows, no matter how old or young you are, that Rudolph the Reindeer exists.” Back in 2013 when she first met Rudolph, she said “I think we will be getting along. I hope that when he gets older and trained I can go for a ride on a sled with him.” There have been no sled rides yet, but the new baby reindeer was immediately drawn to Mikaela. Coincidence? We think not. Okay, it could have been the food...but he did seem to like Mikaela. Perhaps a good omen for Saturday?

For the region of Lapland, far, far in northern Finland, reindeer play an important role in everyday life, and herding them is the oldest livelihood in Lapland. “Reindeer are used for transportation, for meat markets, and also for clothes,” noted Ounaskievari Reindeer Farm reindeer herder Johanna Hietanen. She provides the prize animal for the World Cup each year, and houses them following the event. 

Finland’s host broadcaster took note, asking Mikaela if she had thought about the name of her potential fourth reindeer. “No,” she laughed. “I have some work to do on Saturday before I can think of that - in the past, I have decided at the moment while I’m on the podium. It’ll probably be something from Disney. We’ll see, and I guess you’ll all have to tune in to find out!” 

On the women's side, Mikaela will lead a strong contingency of three Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes, including 2017 NCAA slalom champion Paula Moltzan (University of Vermont) and seven-time national champion Nina O’Brien. Meanwhile, the rest of their squad is busy competing in a NorAm series, at Copper Mountain, Colo., where teammate Keely Cashman had a strong start to the season grabbing two slalom podiums. Paula and Nina have been training up in Lapland for over a week, and while they may feel the need for Vitamin D, they’re also feeling the need for speed.

They’ve were able to train on the race hill three times, which will be an advantage for both, as Paula has not skied on the track since 2014, and Nina has only skied on the track once in her career (2018). Both have been skiing strong in slalom during prep period camps, while Paula is coming off the high of winning a time trial in Copper Mountain, Colo. and grabbing her giant slalom start spot for Killington and Nina started the season off strong, scoring points and a career-best 21st place in Sölden in giant slalom.  

On the men’s side, 2019 national slalom and alpine combined champion and up-and-comer Luke Winters - whom the ladies have deemed "#WintersIsComing" - will be representing the American men’s slalom team, while his teammates will start off the season with a focus on NorAm competition. That means Luke will be holding down the #SlamifestDestiny fort. His coach, Ryan Wilson, said Luke’s pace in prep period training - including at the recent Copper Mountain, Colo. camp on the new Copper Mountain Tech Center surface - has been solid and he’s in a good position to move up the ranks this season. 

Stay tuned to our Instagram account, because you won’t want to miss it, with all of the winter wonderland excitement around the World Cup slalom opener at Levi and an appearance by the one and only Santa Claus. 

STARTERS
Paula Moltzan
Nina O’Brien
Mikaela Shiffrin
Luke Winters

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HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
Preliminary schedule, subject to change

Saturday, Nov. 23
4:00 a.m. - Women’s Slalom, run 1 - Levi, FIN - NBC Sports Gold
7:00 a.m. - Women’s Slalom – Levi, FIN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
7:00 a.m. - Women’s Slalom, run 2 – Levi, FIN - NBC Sports Gold
6:00 p.m. - Women’s Slalom – Levi, FIN*, NBCSN

Sunday, Nov. 24
4:00 a.m. - Men’s Slalom, run 1 – Levi, FIN - NBC Sports Gold
7:00 a.m. - Men’s Slalom – Levi, FIN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
7:00 a.m. - Men’s Slalom, run 2 – Levi, FIN - NBC Sports Gold

*Same-day delay
**Next-day delay

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app

Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.