Scoring her first German World Cup victory in the Ofterschwang slalom today, just short of her 23rd birthday, Shiffrin admitted that mindset issues impact on her skiing. Despite having clinched another globe before the season close at the finals, the US athlete explained that her results were as much dependant on establishing strength in the mind as well as the body - as evidenced by her need to put herself through a tough training regime.
Shiffrin revealed that she was planning on trying out a different approach to her summer training routine, in the light of Austrian Marcel Hirscher’s success in winning races after a less intensive inter-season break.
Shiffrin triumphed ahead of Wendy Holdener and Frida Hansdotter, in a race that saw retirements of two veteran and “inspirational” female athletes.
She said: “It’s really hard to admit your own faults. I have weaknesses for sure, but when I come into the races, for the most part I have a good idea of how I need to be mentally. “Maybe my biggest weakness is actually to be mentally strong in a race, and to be able to ski the way that I do in training. I train so much that I’m really prepared for all the races I do.
“If I win, it’s because I’m the most prepared athlete on the hill. Today, for sure, I was prepared but it was really difficult. I think everyone is feeling a bit tired now. The biggest challenge I have for the rest of the season is to finish really strong.”
Asked about the starting gate mindset balance between risk and care, she said: “Maybe (it’s) not (about being) really careful, but (it’s about) risk and skiing smart. I was a bit rough in the second run. “I am not really a skier who wants to risk everything (on the second run), so if I do have a race where I ski amazingly, and I risk everything and have a great second run, and it works, then that’s exciting for me.
“But today I didn’t risk anything. I just wanted to put in some good athletic skiing.”
Shiffrin was three tenths ahead of Holdener coming into the second run. “I felt I really had to fight for that win, because I knew Wendy had a really good run. “I was tired. I needed more time for the therapy. Yesterday’s race was almost two hours later than normal. Then there was the doping control and the press conference and everything in the evening, then getting prepared for today.
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OFTERSCHWANG, GERMANY - MARCH 10: Mikaela Shiffrin of USA takes 1st place, Team Usa during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Slalom on March 10, 2018 in Ofterschwang, Germany. (Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom)[/caption]
“I felt I needed more therapy because I’m only 22 years old and I feel like I’m 80. It’s the time of the season where I feel it. Sometimes I wake up and then it’s like; did I leave my leg in the bed?”
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OFTERSCHWANG, GERMANY - MARCH 10: Mikaela Shiffrin of USA competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Slalom on March 10, 2018 in Ofterschwang, Germany. (Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom)[/caption]
Asked what inspiration she took from Hirscher, given his ability to win under mixed training regimes, Shiffrin said: “Everyone has a different way that they prepare. I’ve always been an athlete that needs more training and more preparation to feel confident and to ski and race in the way I want to. I’ve always been amazed how Marcel is the guy to beat - whether he gets good training, or bad training, or no training. It’s really interesting. I haven’t talked to him about it, but it seems like he’s found energy in these last races and is able to ski at the very very top level, when everyone else is tired.
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OFTERSCHWANG, GERMANY - MARCH 10: Mikaela Shiffrin of USA competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Slalom on March 10, 2018 in Ofterschwang, Germany. (Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom)[/caption]
“For sure there’s something to be said for having time off in the summer for a rest. I can’t do what he does. I can’t stay off snow for almost an entire summer.
“But it’s making me think that I need to make a change in my season to try for something different; (something) that can bring me motivation going into the next season.” Asked whether she would she welcome more races where men and women compete in the same venues, she agreed: “It’s always really nice to be around the men’s side. But actually when we are racing, we are more focused on the races. I don’t really get to talk to them too much.
“It’s more a case of watching the races live, racing in the venue - especially when Marcel comes down. It is why I really like going to the finals, to see the men racing.”
The Ofterschwang first run was marked by the retirement runs - in national costume - of Austria’s Michaela Kirchgasser and Slovakia’s Veronika Velez Zuzulova. Shiffrin said: “It was sad because I’ve been inspired by them for my whole career. I watched both of those girls when I was growing up and started on the world cup circuit. We’ve had several races where we’ve had a really battle. It’s sad to see them leave.”
By Richard Orange