She will therefore have just made a return trip to Europe in Levi (Finland), between a training camp at her home in Copper Mountain (Colorado) and the World Cup in Killington in Vermont (northeast).

The party is promised to him during this weekend following the Thanksgiving celebrations with the return of the noisy US fans, a year after the cancellation of the North American tour because of the Covid-19.

“Killington is kind of the home crowd, even though I've only skied there in the World Cup. People there are very passionate about sports, about skiing. Back home, when we talk about skiing. We think Colorado, California, regions with better conditions, but this race on the coast is still huge in terms of fans. All Europeans tell me, they did not expect that. Thanks to Killington now , the east coast is on the ski map. We missed that last year, "said Shiffrin.

The American with 70 World Cup victories arrives in confidence with three podiums in three races contested this winter: victory over the opening giant of Sölden and two 2nd places in the slaloms of Levi last week.

The joy of the American Mikaela Shiffrin, after her victory in the 1st giant of the World Cup, on October 23, 2021 in Soelden (Austria) Joe Klamar AFP / Archives

On Sunday, she will be the big favorite in the slalom: she won over the four races already contested between tight poles in the Vermont resort (from 2016 to 2019).

She would face Slovakian Petra Vlhova, owner of the big crystal globe, who beat her on Levi's two slaloms.

The Slovakian Petra Vlhova, during the 1st round of the slalom in Levi (Finland), on November 21, 2021 Jussi Nukari Lehtikuva / AFP

The two champions have as many points at the top of the general classification (260), the Slovakian being ahead thanks to the number of races won.

Saturday, the giant promises to be more disputed with the Swiss world champion, Lara Gut-Behrami, the Italians Marta Bassino and Federica Brignone, or the French Tessa Worley.

Killington Women's World Cup schedule (in Paris hours, GMT + 1):

Saturday: Giant, 1st round at 4:00 p.m., 2nd round at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday: Slalom, 1st round at 3:45 p.m., 2nd round at 6:45 p.m.

© 2021 AFP