Shiffrin Wins Overall Crystal Globe

ASPEN, CO (Mar. 19, 2017) – Mikaela Shiffrin (Vail, CO) wrapped up a stellar season by lifting the overall World Cup crystal globe over her head in front of a roaring home state crowd.

At Sunday’s FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Finals giant slalom in Aspen, CO, Italian Federica Brignone proved too fast for any of the racers to catch, after taking almost a full second lead first run and building on it second run. Brignone led an Italian sweep, with her teammates Sofia Goggia in second and Marta Bassino third. Shiffrin finished sixth. “I’m not very satisfied,” said Shiffrin. I felt like I had some really good turns, but I didn’t take enough aggression when I really needed it. It’s a bit of a bummer, but it’s good motivation for next year.”

Mikaela Shiffrin races the World Cup Finals giant slalom at Aspen. (U.S. Ski Team-Cody Downard)

Shiffrin was able to celebrate her season-long accomplishment on Sunday, when she was given the overall crystal globe, signifying her best in the world status throughout the 2016-17 season. But she’s not satisfied yet.

“It has been something I’ve dreamed about,” said Shiffrin, who turned 22 while in Aspen. “It still doesn’t feel real, though. It’s like you’re constantly chasing this dream and as soon as you get it, you realize it’s still so far away. I’m so motivated to get better and I think that’s a good thing.”

Shiffrin stands with her overall crystal globe, flanked by Ilka Stuhec in second and Sofia Goggia in third. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Alexis Boichard)

Shiffrin joins an elite club of American skiers that have won the overall crystal globe, including Tamara McKinney (Squaw Valley, CA), Phil Mahre (Yakima, WA), Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) and Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO).

The men raced slalom Sunday with Andrew Myhrer of Sweden taking first, Felix Neureuther of Germany second and Michael Matt of Austria third. Marcel Hirscher of Austria was crowned overall World Cup champion for the sixth year in a row, a title he clinched weeks prior to Aspen.

The World Cup Finals wrapped the season, but the Americans still have the U.S. Alpine Championships taking place March 25-28 at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mikaela Shiffrin won the overall World Cup crystal globe.
• On Saturday, Shiffrin brought home the slalom globe for the fourth time in five years.
• Shiffrin finished sixth in the World Cup Finals giant slalom.
• Tessa Worley won the giant slalom crystal globe for the women, the first GS globe for a French woman since 1993.
• Marcel Hirscher of Austria won the giant slalom and overall crystal globe for the men.

QUOTES

Mikaela Shiffrin

(On the World Cup Finals GS)
I’m not very satisfied. I felt like I had some really good turns, but I didn’t take enough aggression when I really needed it. It’s a bit of a bummer, but it’s good motivation for next year.

(On the 2016-17 season)
Overall, it’s been incredible. It’s sort of sad that it’s over.

It’s physically grueling—it’s 60 seconds as hard as you can go. On most training days, we’re doing 12 of those runs. It’s a full-on workout. It’s pretty incredible to know that we can actually do that—how far you can actually push your limits and push your body right at the end of the year. It’s tiring physically and mentally. There are so many emotional rollercoasters that you just want to take a nap for three days straight.

It has been something I’ve dreamed about. It still doesn’t feel real, though. It’s like you’re constantly chasing this dream and as soon as you get it, you realize it’s still so far away. I’m so motivated to get better and I think that’s a good thing.

I’m really proud of the team around me: my coaches, my mom, all the people who have really been there this entire time, supported me the entire time. They’ve been in my dark moments and the bright moments too. There’s a big group of people that support me—sponsors and everybody, but there’s a small group of people who are with me every second and know me the best. I’m very thankful for them.

(On what’s next)
My goal right now is to race in speed at the Olympics, and a little more speed next year. But it’s really challenging. I raced a few super G racers this year and two downhills and even that was very tiring. I still focused on my main events, but as I get older and more confident and stronger, then I can add more speed.

I was thinking about next year at the beginning of this year. There’s always things to think about and there’s so much planning going into next season, especially with the Olympics. We’re planning summer ski plans and conditioning training and the season and how we’re going to manage traveling—there’s a lot that goes into it. I’m already thinking about it—I have been for a while.

RESULTS
Men’s slalom
Women’s giant slalom