Mikaela Shiffrin is renowned for her lightning-fast skiing and numerous podium finishes. However, when it comes to preserving her trophies, she seems to be a bull in a china shop.
During her European sojourn in March, Shiffrin suffered a mishap that resulted in the breakage of one of her three 2022-23 World Cup crystal globes. The unfortunate incident occurred while she was filming an impromptu commercial with Land Rover at the Hermitage Hotel in Soldeu, Andorra, during the World Cup Finals.
Eileen Shiffrin, Mikaela’s mother, described the incident in which the Giant Slalom trophy rolled off the passenger seat of a Land Rover. This incident was captured in Episode 6 of Shiffrin’s YouTube video series, “Moving Right Along.”
After remaining in storage during the summer, Eileen decided to reach out to a family friend, skier, and filmmaker, Chris Anthony, in mid-August to explore the possibility of repairing the damaged trophy. They contemplated donating it to the Colorado Snowsports Museum if a suitable display could be arranged.
Aware of the significance of World Cup globes to skiers, akin to the prestige of the Stanley Cup or Lombardi Trophy, Chris Anthony decided to undertake the restoration project. Despite time constraints as the Shiffrin family was departing for Europe, Eileen entrusted the trophy to Chris, who picked it up from her personally.
Instead of repairing the globe to its original state, Chris Anthony chose a unique approach that would narrate the story of the accident. He sought the assistance of John Sysak, a craftsman at Progressive Plastics in south Denver, to repair the trophy. Unable to restore the base and stem to their original form due to the leaded glass material, they decided on a raised presentation that would showcase the breakage.
A plaque, documenting the accident, was created by Brian Hart from Frame De Art, and this was added to the display. The inscription reads:
Mikaela Shiffrin’s 2022-23 World Cup Giant Slalom Globe According to Eileen Shiffrin (Mikaela’s Mother) “It rolled off the passenger seat when being buckled in for a shoot with Land Rover in the Lobby of the Hermitage Hotel in Soldeu, Andorra after World Cup Finals.”
The repaired trophy and the accompanying plaque were recently presented to the Colorado Snowsports Museum. Mikaela Shiffrin’s World Cup globe now joins her previous trophies on display, highlighting the resilience and history behind this remarkable piece of sporting memorabilia. This extraordinary restoration is a testament to the enduring legacy of Shiffrin’s achievements and the story behind her indomitable spirit.
