The 2024/25 FIS Ski World Cup is shaping up to be an unforgettable season for winter sports fans. Not only could this be the tournament where Mikaela Shiffrin claims her 100th World Cup victory, but the added emphasis on protecting the climate by the organizers will also make this year’s top-tier skiing event particularly captivating. However, the main star in the spotlight is feeling somewhat bittersweet as she returns to the slopes of Levi, Finland, to kick off her World Cup journey.

Shiffrin’s major dud at the Rettenbach glacier last month was dearly felt, and fans can’t wait to see the American juggernaut get back into her natural habitat this Saturday. And yet, despite the anticipation about her return to form after her knee injury last season, Mikaela Shiffrin isn’t feeling the excitement herself.

Mikaela Shiffrin misses her arch-nemesis ahead of heating things up in Levi

The 29-year-old alpine skier recently talked to FIS about what to expect from her upcoming slalom race in Levi. In an article by FIS-Ski.com from November 12, Shiffrin talks about why she never feels confident about racing on the slope where she has already racked up seven victories over the years. Ever since making her debut on the Finnish slope in 2012, Shiffrin has had some memorable times at World Cup events. And yet, she feels the thrill would definitely be paler this time around.

In January this year, Mikaela’s biggest competitor Petra Vlhova suffered a season-ending injury in her home country of Slovakia. Vlhova still hasn’t recovered fully and will be missing out on this year’s World Cup action. Naturally, Shiffrin is a little upset that the fans won’t be able to watch two of the greatest alpine skiers going after each other at this year’s World Cup. “I am going to miss those battles on the slope,” Shiffrin confessed about how things would be without having her arch nemesis pushing her at Levi.

Right after Vlhova’s horrific experience earlier this year, Shiffrin took to social media to exclaim that things wouldn’t be the same without her by her side. The American wished her Slovakian rival a speedy recovery and hoped that they would meet again soon. While that isn’t going to happen this time, there will still be plenty of others to keep Shiffrin on her toes.

Shiffrin won’t be getting off easy

While Vlhova’s return to Levi for her seventh World Cup victory in Finland may pose a challenge for Shiffrin, fans shouldn’t expect the American to have an easy time. Ski stars like Germany’s Lena Duerr and Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener are more than capable of making life difficult for the 97-time World Cup winner. Finishing just behind Shiffrin in the 2023/24 season, Duerr is feeling confident that she can challenge her American rival. With a second-place finish already under her belt at Levi, the 33-year-old German skier believes that if her pre-season training is any indication, she shouldn’t have too much to worry about.

On the other hand, Shiffrin’s display at the season-opener in Switzerland raised many eyebrows because of how slow she looked during the first giant slalom of the season. However, she assured fans that things would soon change for the better as Mikaela stated, “I felt good. My preparation going to this race was quite strong, I am happy with my skiing right now. The only task is to bring more intensity or more aggression.” So do you think her 98th World Cup victory would happen in Finland this weekend? Or would we need to hold on to our horses for longer? Share your predictions in the comments below!