Mikaela Shiffrin Suggests Wild Idea to Rival Petra Vlhová While Missing Her at the Ongoing FIS Ski World Cup

Mikaela Shiffrin has just clinched her 99th win in Gurgel, Austria, inching ever closer to the monumental 100th victory. In just a few days, she’ll be aiming for that historic milestone at Killington, Vermont. Yet, this season feels a little different—missing a key rival from the slopes. Mikaela recently opened up about how the absence of Petra Vlhová has left a noticeable gap in the excitement of the FIS Ski World Cup. Over the years, Shiffrin and Vlhová’s rivalry has defined both their careers, with their fierce battles pushing each other to legendary heights. Shiffrin reflected fondly on their rivalry, saying, “It’s really pretty cool” to look back on all the intensity and passion they’ve shared through the years.

Mikaela recalled some of Vlhová’s unforgettable runs at Levi, which she described as some of the best she’s ever seen. “Some of her recent runs are really the best I’ve ever seen on this slope, and it motivates me to try harder, to be more precise with my skiing,” Mikaela Shiffrin admitted. But even as she competes without her long-time rival this year, she remains undeterred. “We will be feeling her absence for sure,” Mikaela added. Now, as Mikaela Shiffrin feels the absence of her rival, she’s come up with a wild idea to bring some spark back to the scene.

Mikaela Shiffrin’s wild idea!

On November 29, Mikaela Shiffrin took to Instagram, sharing a fun reel with her longtime rival Petra Vlhová. The two were lounging on a couch, with Petra eagerly teaching Mikaela some Slovak. Of course, as a Slovak alpine skier, Petra’s language skills are top-notch, but Mikaela, the American powerhouse, had a bit of a struggle with the pronunciation.

Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, and Mikaela Shiffrin playfully called it a “tongue twister.” With a laugh, she added, “Thanks for teaching me some Slovak, Petra 😅🙃 Think we should start a podcast?” Looks like the duo might have a new project in mind! While Mikaela Shiffrin and Petra Vlhová might be cooking up some fun ideas, there’s no denying that Mikaela truly feels the void left by her rival on the slopes.

Petra, unfortunately, is sidelined after an injury during her run in the last season. In a split second, she lost her balance on a tricky left turn just 14 seconds in, initially adjusting to avoid a fall but ultimately tumbling sideways into the safety fencing. The crowd of 10,000 spectators watched as the race came to an abrupt stop. It’s been tough for Shiffrin, too, who has openly expressed how much she misses their legendary rivalry on the snow, especially when the intensity of their past battles has always pushed them to new heights.

Shiffrin misses her rival!

You heard it right! Mikaela Shiffrin has been pretty open about how much she’s missing her rival on the slopes. In early November, the 29-year-old alpine star sat down with FIS and shared her thoughts about what to expect from her upcoming slalom race in Levi. Despite having already claimed seven victories on the Finnish slopes over the years, Shiffrin confessed she doesn’t feel that familiar surge of confidence before the race this time. Her debut on this iconic slope in 2012 marked the beginning of many unforgettable World Cup moments, but now, with her rival absent, the thrill just won’t be the same.

Last season, Mikaela’s fiercest competitor, Petra Vlhová, suffered a season-ending injury in her home country of Slovakia, leaving her sidelined and unable to race in the World Cup. With Vlhova still recovering, Shiffrin can’t help but feel the loss of the battles that have defined their careers for so long. “I am going to miss those battles on the slope,” Mikaela admitted, sharing how much she’s going to miss facing off against her Slovakian counterpart, a rival who’s pushed her to greatness for years.

After Petra’s heartbreaking injury earlier this year, Shiffrin didn’t hold back on social media, expressing how different the season would feel without her rival by her side. The American skier sent heartfelt wishes for Vlhova’s recovery, hoping they’d be able to go head-to-head again soon. Although that showdown won’t happen this time around, Shiffrin knows that with the fierce competition in the field, her edge will still be tested—just not in the way she’s used to.