Dasher, Dancer, and Winkie? Mikaela Shiffrin Adds Another Reindeer to Her Herd
At ski races in North America or Europe, an ornate trophy is awarded to the winner, usually a hand-crafted piece of metal or wood that can easily be hoisted over one’s head.
However, when you win a race at 68 degrees latitude and more than 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle on the sacred land of the Sámi people, receiving your very own reindeer makes a whole lot more sense.
Over the weekend in Levi, Finland, Mikaela Shiffrin, the winningest ski racer of all-time, unleashed a beyond dominant 1.66 second victory over her nearest challenger Lara Colturi. Shiffrin increased her lifetime World Cup victories total to 102, and added a member to her living and breathing trophy case of Finnish reindeer to nine.
“Perfect conditions and today was amazing, just one of those days,” Shiffrin said, shortly after her performance. “For sure, it’s a good feeling and yes, I could open a reindeer farm.” After the impressive triumph, Shiffrin fed her new reindeer while sitting on a podium step. Santa Claus was seen smiling nearby.
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Despite countless post-race queries from intrepid journalists, she initially held off naming her newest reindeer. “I actually don’t know yet, but I will get back to everybody later,” Shiffrin told one Finnish journalist, hoping for the scoop.
Shiffrin ended the suspense one day later, revealing the name via Instagram: Winkie. She explained: “Winkie is in honor of my Mom’s childhood nickname. Been a long time coming for my Mom to finally get a reindeer in her name.”
Now including Winkie, Mikaela’s Finnish reindeer have been named Rudolph, Sven, Mr. Gru, Ingemar, Sunny, Lorax, Grogu, and Rori. And to be clear, Mikaela hasn’t transported her arctic animals home with her to the Colorado Rockies. They are overjoyed residing at the Ounaskievari Reindeer Farm, just seven kilometers outside of Levi, a loving and caring home.
“Last year, I went there with my family – my mother, my brother and his wife were here watching, so we all went together to see them, it was a family affair,” Shiffrin informed.
Click the arrow in the embedded Instagram post below to see all nine of Shiffrin’s reindeer.
The eight-time World Cup slalom champion blazed to an enormous first run lead on the Levi Black racing piste, 1.08 seconds faster than her nearest challenger, the 19-year-old Colturi. Shiffrin’s timing, precision and quick transitions from edge-to-edge were flawless.
There was never any doubt in the afternoon run, which was contested under artificial light as the Finnish sun waned, as Shiffrin progressively increased her lead, accelerating smoothly down the 590 feet of vertical drop. Her 1.66 second margin of victory was mind-blowing.
“I felt really strong on both runs, a little nervous still which is great, the second run I was feeling like ‘don’t mess it up, that would be kind of embarrassing’,” Shiffrin said. “I pushed really hard and enjoyed skiing that second run. I’m super happy.”
Shiffrin was also fastest in the second run, 0.28 seconds quicker than U.S. teammate Paula Moltzan, who rocketed from 19th, following a first-run mistake, to finish fourth. For the 30-year-old Colorado skiing icon, it marked her record-extending 65th career World Cup slalom triumph.
Shiffrin continues to grow her reindeer farm at what is an absolutely magical setting for skiing. At 68 degrees north latitude, Levi Ski Resort is nestled just outside the small Finnish village of Sirkka, population 900. Finland’s largest ski area rises to 1,742 feet above sea level, offering stunning views of the Kittilä region.
“I just love it here, I love the vibe, it’s so cozy and such a nice place to start the slalom season,” Shiffrin said. As Levi is the most northerly World Cup race venue, the Finnish sun rises at just past 9:30am and sets five hours later, at 2:40pm. Nighttime sightings of the Aurora Borealis present a kaleidoscope of mesmerizing colors and inspiration.
Queried about the best thing from the Finnish Lapland, Shiffrin said: “I would have said the Northern Lights, but we also had them in Colorado about three days ago. But it’s not the true north, so maybe they’re just the Colorado lights,” she added, with a chuckle.
Watch: Mikaela Shiffrin Wins Ninth Reindeer in Levi, Finland
Shiffrin earned 100 World Cup points with Saturday’s slalom triumph. It is an auspicious start as the Colorado racer pursues her ninth career title in the technical discipline.
Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark (who Shiffrin has honored with a reindeer named after him) has won eight, including seven consecutive titles, between 1974-1981.
Mikaela now leads the overall World Cup standings as she seeks what could be a record-tying sixth large crystal globe. And naturally, the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics await in February, rounding out an important season on the slopes.
“I’m feeling really good about my skiing again and want to ski to my potential, so I always get nervous. Racing is always a little bit uncomfortable and stressful, so I’m looking forward to making friends with it, the environment and mentality,” she revealed. “That’s a goal for the whole season and the Olympics.”
The alpine skiing superstar tallied her 90th slalom and 158th career podium. Her 65 victories across 283 World Cup starts calculates to an unfathomable 23% winning percentage over her illustrious 15-year career on the U.S. Ski Team.
And now the undisputed GOAT of ski racing has a full sleigh of reindeer to show for her most recent success.
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