Could an additional $50,000 be on the line for Mikaela Shiffrin at the Birds of Prey World Cup?

When Mikaela Shiffrin swings through North America for the Killington and Beaver Creek World Cup races later this month and early next, there will be more on the line than just defending her two home slopes.

On Thursday, the U.S. ski team, together with its title sponsor, Stifel Financial, announced the Stifel HERoic Cup, which will be awarded to the female athlete who accumulates the most World Cup points across the three North American stops on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup tour: Killington (Nov. 30-Dec. 1), Mont Tremblant (Dec. 7-8), and the Birds of Prey (Dec. 14-15).

The winner will be given a newly-designed trophy and $50,000 at an awards ceremony following the super-G race in Beaver Creek.

The Birds of Prey World Cup extended its program to include women’s races this December. Shiffrin will not take part in the downhill on Dec. 14 but is planning to race the super-G on Dec. 15. Last week in Levi, the Edwards skier claimed her 98th-career World Cup win.

Four of the six HERoic Cup-eligible races are tech events — Shiffrin’s specialties. There are three giant slalom races — a discipline in which she has accumulated 22-career World Cup wins and a pair of crystal globes; one slalom — an event she holds the all-time wins record (61); a downhill, and a super-G.

According to the U.S. ski team press release, the prize money will be deposited in a Stifel investment account. The winner can either withdraw it, leave it invested with Stifel’s guidance, or combine both. In the event of a tie, the cash prize will be split.

“We’re excited to help the Stifel U.S. Ski Team celebrate and empower women competing in North America this winter through our sponsorship of the Stifel HERoic Cup,” said Ron Kruszewski, chairman and CEO of Stifel, in the release. “As the firm ‘Where Success Meets Success,’ we continue to align the Stifel brand with individuals who share our commitment to greatness, and we look forward to supporting these dedicated female athletes as they compete for the first-ever Stifel HERoic Cup.”

“Ron and Stifel have been incredible supporters of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team,” Shiffrin said in the release. “And their support of the Stifel HERoic Cup is yet another example of their passion for ski racing and their determination to bring more support to our team and awareness to our sport.” 

The concept of the Stifel HERoic Cup came forth in order “to promote excellence in women’s Alpine skiing further while showcasing Stifel’s commitment to supporting the sport and its athletes,” the release said. “It aligns with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s broader goals of women’s empowerment within the organization’s HERoic Initiative.” 

The Heroic Initiative was launched at the Killington World Cup in 2022. The multi-faceted program was created to “provide more leadership opportunities and mentorship for women,” according to the U.S. ski team website.