Eagle, CO – Mikaela Shiffrin, of Eagle, Colo., began turning heads almost instantly when she finished top 15 of her first two NorAm Cup races. And ski fans (and coaches) went cross-eyed when she landed a World Cup podium during her rookie season – at age 16.

During her official World Cup “rookie” year, Shiffrin took a slalom podium with third just after Christmas, giant slalom points in February and a trip to the elite top-25 World Cup Finals. She ended the season ranked 17th in the world in slalom – as a 17-year-old. Her peers took notice and voted her “World Cup Rookie of the Year.”

This year, Shiffrin has already found her place on the podium in Levi, Finland, and made her best-ever placement in giant slalom. Then just before Christmas she became the third youngest American ever to win a World Cup race, a slalom under the lights in Are, Sweden.

Shiffrin’s commitment to working on fundamental skiing exercises has aided her success and makes her a perfect ambassador athlete for the USSA’s new SkillsQuest program.

Name: Mikaela Shiffrin

Sport: Alpine Skiing

How/when did you decide you wanted to compete: When I was 6, I decided I wanted to compete because my brother was racing.

Biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Two slalom podiums on the World Cup.

Goals for next season: An Olympic medal!

Favorite snow destination: Mt. Hood

Favorite non-snow destination: Maui or Hood River

If you weren’t a professional athlete what would you be: A musician, doctor or some sort of science related occupation

Biggest vice: Procrastination

Biggest pet peeve: When people wake me up from a nap for no good reason.

Advice to others who want to follow in your footsteps: Work hard and be patient.

Read more about Mikaela Shiffrin here at FTO.