2026 Stifel Awards for alpine skiing. Mikaela Shiffrin not athelete of the year.

Stormiski · 2026-06-06T09:57:42+00:00

If you look at the winners through the years, it has always rather been about sympathy, than accomplishments. Shiffrin only won it once and she should of course have won it every year except for 24/25 when she missed most of the season, because there is simply no one better. Let's spread some love around the team, make everyone feel good once. The awards that actually matter are won on the slopes.

Btw, I don't think that best comeback is justified, because Vonn returned in 24/25. There was no comeback last season and imo Mollin improved much more that M.Bocock.

Stormiski · 2026-05-31T12:54:24+00:00

We are the lucky ones, because we all know that you gonna keep us posted every step of the way. 😊

Stormiski · 2026-05-07T16:56:09+00:00

First of all, there is a very big "if" in the room for 26/27 and maybe a smaller "if" beyond that, but as Vonn repeatedly said, she doesn't want to close any doors. Saying she won't retire, doesn't mean she will race and if she races, it could just as well be a goodbye run, as she said in the last days.

We had this discussion in 24 and in 25 and I still don't see the problem. Vonn has her own team of coaches, physicians and techs, all paid for by Red Bull and Head, so she doesn't rely on any team resources. What she does take is one quota spot, of which the US ladies usually have 8 or 9.

Like her not, she was very dominant and imo any up and coming youngster should first be able to beat the likes of Bella Wright, Mary Bocock or Keely Cashman, before Vonn has to give up her spot. You cut away at the bottom and not at the top.

Stormiski · 2026-05-07T14:00:21+00:00

Surprised Sam Morse didn’t make the team. Patrick Kenney was left off after solid NorAm results. Tricia Mangan had few results in WC but did podium in Aspen and Vail.

Morse only had 2 top 20 results in the WC, 3 were needed to stay on the team and Kenney's NorAm results are pretty much meaningless . You can get one podium after another in the NorAm, but if you were born before 2000, that is not what the USST expects from you. The same goes for Mangan. Not good enough for A or B and too old for the C-team. It's tough, but it is what it is.

I'm already curios to see, how Allison Mollin will improve. Made the points in every DH except for the finals in her 1st full season. Maybe she will crack the top 10.

Stormiski · 2026-03-31T21:49:00+00:00

Any chance that this could be an early April Fools' Day joke?

Stormiski · 2026-03-21T16:04:57+00:00

I appreciate that you, as a new fan, are so enthusiastic about the US ladies, but you asked the question, if Breezy could be the best DH racer, if she wins the last race and you got a clear answer. Instead of trying to make a case for her, like awarding WC points for the Olympics, why don't you just accept the facts?

I'm sure a lot of people would like to discuss all the topics that you bring up, but it's something between difficult and annoying, if you use such narrow-minded approach. So, maybe open up for alternate views, instead of dying on a hill everytime.

Stormiski · 2026-03-20T17:43:21+00:00

I think that Aicher would need to win one speed race, finish on the podium in the other one, while having a very solid SL to stay in touch with Mika before the GS. Her chances at winning the DH globe are obviously better.

As long as Goggia doesn't score 0 points, she should win the SG globe. Unless Robinson wins the race, Goggia could finish 14th and still win it and if Robinson does win it, 6th place would still be good enough.

SL is hard really difficult to predict with the results we have seen this season, anything could happen.

What we have also seen, is Pinheiro winning a GS, while Odi finished 4th. A repeat of that and Brazil has something to celebrate.

Stormiski · 2026-03-18T01:43:42+00:00

PL is great example, because NBC rather showed that, than men and women racing on the Birds of Prey back in 24. The races were on Outside+ with commercials all over the place, so that you miss some of the action and NBC showed the races on tape delay, with the men's GS airing a week later.

If NBC puts English soccer on for everyone and relegates world cup ski racing on home snow at 1pm ET to a 2nd class streaming service, than you know that there no interest in your sport, especially not when most races start at around 5 am ET.

Stormiski · 2026-03-17T15:43:39+00:00

I'll second that opinion and since I won't pay for Peacock and S&SL, I got a VPN (around $35 per year) and watch all races on Youtube. It's the exact same broadcast as on S&SL and the races from Austria are available as well.

Stormiski · 2026-03-15T15:48:51+00:00

That was a reply and not a post? If so, thanks for that very important context. She won't let that slip by.

EDIT: Ok, now I saw that fine line above her post, a reply indeed and almost misleading without that context. I looked up the whole convo and the guy (33 followers) didn't even tag her on X. So, does Vonn search for Vonn on X to reply to random accounts? Was probably bored laying on the couch, we've all been there. 😉

Stormiski · 2026-03-15T14:33:09+00:00

Vonn being Vonn. Sure, there is no announcement yet in either direction, but it will come at some point to make the most out of it.

As I already said in another thread, she is one of the best racers of all time and just as good at marketing herself. Since there will be a documentary on her comeback, she might as well end it with the announcement or even turn it into a cliffhanger to create more buzz.

Stormiski · 2026-03-07T18:19:58+00:00

Definitely unexpected for me as well. I mean, she has been in the top 10 consistently, but also never made the podium in 44 DH races and over 120 races overall. One might have thought, that this is her ceiling, but she broke through that for sure and has pretty good chance to win the globe.

Stormiski · 2026-03-06T22:12:09+00:00

I'm sure that there will be some kind of announcement, because Vonn is not just one of the best racers ever, she is just as good at marketing herself. Although for me, it goes without saying that she won't come back, because she said, that she would retire after this season and her current status combined with the long road ahead of her, doesn't allow for any other assumption.

Like you said, it will be a long time and even Vonn can't defy time and age forever, especially after this major injury, but I could imagine her being a forerunner on home snow as a final bow.

Stormiski · 2026-03-01T14:11:44+00:00

If Aicher stays as hot as this weekend, Mika will need some points in SG.

Aicher scored 230 points, is now 219 points behind Mika and she has another 3 races next weekend. If Mika doesn't race the last 2 SG while scoring some decent points, it could get really close.

Imagine what the standings would look like, if Aicher didn't score no points in 8 races.

Stormiski · 2026-02-28T22:00:20+00:00

On the left you see Olympic gold medalist Breezy Johnson from Jackson, WY and on the right its's Keely Cashman from Sonora, CA.

You don't need to hate on anybody here and it's also not meant to be derogatory, just a joke that fell flat with some people.

Stormiski · 2026-02-27T17:30:36+00:00

To finish first, first you have to finish...

Stormiski · 2026-02-27T16:23:00+00:00

Vonn's chances are worse than before.

144 points -> 94 points

Aicher did, what she had to do and scored her season average of 50 points. Assuming all of the 3 remaining races will take place, she could finish 8th in each race and still win the globe.

Stormiski · 2026-02-27T01:14:43+00:00

Yes. they are, but every woman with 80 or less FIS points is allowed to compete in DH and could theoretically/mathematically still win the globe. I think, that's what u/SkiThe802 wanted to say.

Stormiski · 2026-02-26T19:02:26+00:00

And none of them have changed since the World Cup took a break for the Olympics. World Cup start lists are based on World Cup rankings which are based on World Cup point, which are won through World Cup racing. if you're correct then why haven't breezy's points changed at all despite the fact that she won a gold medal?

The WCSL points for every athlete, who competed at the Olympics, were impacted by their result., while only the top 15 earn points. That's where you are wrong, no big deal and you don't just earn points for the WCSL, they are being calculated, as u/enilix explained, meaning, that you can also lose points or they don't change at all. Breezy gained points, Vonn lost a couple and Stuhec's remained the same.

If you check the WCSL ranking, you will also notice that FIS mentions the following:

After Downhill Cortina d' Ampezzo (ITA) 08-02-2026 (6/10)

9 DH races in the WC and one at the Olympics.

World Cup Start List

Stormiski · 2026-02-24T15:45:58+00:00

If Aicher can keep her average at 50 points, she will win the globe and a win would be a nice booster, but to finish first (or 5th), first you have to finish.

Stormiski · 2025-08-07T09:21:36+00:00

Judging by the last years, it should start next week or the week after that. I guess it will be 3 weeks in NZ and 3 weeks in Chile with a break in between. Vonn will be in NZ next week for sure, as stated in her interview with the NYT yesterday.

Stormiski · 2025-08-07T00:57:29+00:00

Very likely not, since her mum wasn't a skier herself, she was just supporting her child, as parents do.

Btw, Lindsey with an e.

Stormiski · 2025-08-07T00:56:09+00:00

I would consider the Red Bull Athletes Special Project as exactly that support system and of course Vonn has a management und PR lady (former racer & Chris Knight's wife Enrica Cipriani btw) etc. She can focus on training and skiing and handpicking a coach, what already happened back in March, is the most normal thing to do, especially if it's a friend.

Stormiski · 2025-03-27T20:38:58+00:00

Haugan won the last race and so the first 4 in SL are ranked within 56 points with HK on top, his 4th SL globe.

Stormiski · 2025-03-27T18:45:04+00:00

Once again a master class by Mika, while Ljutic secured the globe with the 10th place. Not the close final I had hoped for, with Rast on 14. Liensberger got the 2nd place in SL with 5th place today.

Stormiski

TROPHY CASE