February 23. Sestriere, Italy. Almost three months after a brutal crash left her bruised, punctured, and questioning everything, Mikaela Shiffrin did what no Alpine skier had ever done: She hit 100 World Cup wins!  Think about that. A century of victories in a sport where careers are built on fractions of a second. And this one? It was personal. After that gut-wrenching fall in November in Killington, Vermont, doubts crept in. Could she still be here?  She answered with pure dominance, crossing the line 0.61 seconds ahead of Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic. But hold on—her season’s not done yet!

Now, she’s heading home to Sun Valley, Idaho, for her season finale at the World Cup Finals in a season that’s been a rollercoaster! But wait, she has something to say as she looks ahead. One race left. That’s all Mikaela Shiffrin has before she closes out a season that’s been full of highs, lows, and a historic milestone. On Thursday, March 27, the two-time Olympic champion will compete in the women’s slalom at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, her final race of the season. It’s the only event she’ll race, as she didn’t qualify for the giant slalom at the Finals. And while she won’t be able to defend her slalom title, sitting at 386 points, far behind Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić (515 points), this is about more than numbers. This is about finishing strong, on home snow, with the crowd behind her.

Shiffrin took to Instagram today, sharing, “Time to finish off this rollercoaster-thrill-of-a-season with one more race on home soil. See you in the morning, Sun Valley🩵 Bib 2.” Accompanying the post were images, possibly from a recent training session. The first shot showed Shiffrin, in what looked like a black racing suit and blue helmet, flying down the slopes, her skis biting into the snow as she leaned into a sharp turn. Snow sprays wildly into the air, frozen in motion, a blur of white powder surrounding her. The second image slowed things down: a single ski lift pole, standing tall against the vast, snowy landscape. The background is blurred, almost dreamy, the white slopes stretching endlessly behind it. There’s something quiet, almost something meditative, about it!

Then came a photo drenched in drama and contrast, Shiffrin’s silhouette, dark and defined against a blinding white light, standing on what looks like a ski lift or a high platform. The angle makes it look almost surreal, like she’s standing at the edge of something bigger than just a race. It’s a pause, a deep breath, the kind of image that speaks volumes without saying a word. The fourth image looks like it was all about the fine details: a close-up of a ski pole slicing through the snow, carving a deep groove in probably what looked like the fresh powder. The burst of white as the pole makes contact, the texture of the snow shifting under pressure. And then, one last shot—another image of Shiffrin in full motion, her body low, legs absorbing the force of the turn, snow exploding around her like a storm.

That was Mikaela Shiffrin giving us a sneak peek as she gears up for her final race of the season, one last battle on home snow after a year that tested her in probably every way. But to truly understand the weight of this moment, we have to rewind. Let’s take a look at Shiffrin’s rollercoaster season.

A lookback at Mikaela Shiffrin’s season

Mikaela Shiffrin’s season? A wild, unpredictable ride! November 30, Killington. She was right there to win her 100th WC, and it was within reach. 0.32 seconds ahead after the first run. The home crowd was buzzing. Then, in an instant, it was gone. She clipped a gate, lost control, and slammed into the netting. A brutal crash, and she was taken off on a sled. The injury? A puncture wound to the abdomen. Surgery. A season was thrown into chaos.  For two months, she fought to get back. Then, January 30, FSI World Cup slalom, Courchevel, France. First race back. She wasn’t at her best—10th place, more than two seconds off. But she was back. And that was step one!

Then, just about two and a half months later, February 11. The new team combined events at the World Championships at Saalbach, Austria. She and Breezy Johnson delivered. Gold. That made 15 World Championship medals for Shiffrin, tying the all-time record. A reminder that she wasn’t going anywhere. And then, February 23, Sestriere. This was the one. The slalom. No holding back. She crossed the line for her 100th World Cup win. No one had done that before. A century of victories.

Shiffrin missed races, lost ground in the standings, and won’t be able to defend her slalom title. But this season wasn’t about points. It was about resilience, finishing strong, and making history again!