Mikaela Shiffrin revealed that a conversation with Slovakian skiing champion Petra Vlhová served as the inspiration behind the start of her off-field pursuits. The American recently launched her own YouTube podcast, where she engages in conversations about life beyond skiing, releasing new episodes on a bi-weekly basis.
She opened her World Cup season with a narrow podium miss, finishing fourth, in the giant slalom event in Soelden, Austria, on Saturday, October 25.
What Did Mikaela Shiffrin Reveal About the Conversation That Inspired Her Podcast?
Shiffrin, the all-time leader in World Cup victories with 101 wins, reflected on the origins of her podcast on its official Instagram page. The former Olympic champion shared how a heartfelt exchange with Vlhová last year became the ‘driving force’ behind her decision to explore storytelling beyond the slopes.
Her revelation came after Vlhová posted an update about returning to the slopes, captioned, “My happy place,” along with a photo of herself. Responding to that, Shiffrin reposted the update on her podcast’s Instagram Story and wrote:
“Just a moment to appreciate this…so excited to see @petravlhova13 back in her happy place! In case you didn’t know, a conversation with Petra last year was really the driving force behind the creation of this podcast. We’re cheering for you, Petra!!! ❤️💪🏻🫶🏻”
Vlhova, the 2022 Slalom Olympic champion, suffered a crash during the giant slalom World Cup event in Jasná in January 2024, which left her needing surgery to repair her right ACL and meniscus. Although she initially aimed to return before the end of last season, she was forced to undergo a second operation to treat persistent pain and cartilage complications.
MORE: Mikaela Shiffrin Reveals the Emotional Weight of Representing Team USA at Olympics
Shiffrin herself endured a crash last season during a giant slalom race on November 30 in Vermont, but returned to competition stronger than ever, going on to surpass 100 World Cup victories.
Shiffrin Opens Up On Her Off-Season and How the Summer Went for Her
The American skier reflected on how she spent her summer, adding that she engaged in rigorous physical training and felt gratified with her overall preparation. In addition, she enjoyed quality time with her family and fiancé, Aleksander Kilde, visiting him and his family in Norway.
Describing her summer as “busy,” she said in an interview with FIS ahead of the season’s commencement:
“I’ve had a good, productive summer of training. I feel like I’ve regained a lot of my strength, especially in my core, compared to last season. I’ve gotten stronger, done some good traveling, attended a few fun events, and spent a lot of time with family. I also had a great time with Alex and his family in Norway over the summer. It’s been busy, but yeah, it’s been good,” Shiffrin stated.
In addition, the two-time Olympic champion expressed mixed emotions about the upcoming season. On being asked if she felt ready, she admitted she wasn’t quite race-ready yet but believed she was getting closer to her peak.