Saalbach Austria Men’s World Cup SL Finals: Feller’s Triumph and Global Showdown

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Who is skiing, when and how to watch the men’s Sunday, March 17th Saalbach World Cup Slalom Finals

On Sunday, March 17th, the Men’s World Cup Finals Slalom (SL) in Saalbach, Austria, will showcase the best of the best in the slalom gates. Only the cream of the crop has made it to the finals, comprising the top 25 performers from the SL season and the reigning Junior World Champion. This year, Lenz Haechler from Switzerland claimed the title of Junior World Slalom Champion and earned an invitation to the Saalbach finals.

Austria’s Manuel Feller has had a remarkable year, culminating in him finishing fifth at the Stifel Aspen Winternational in Colorado on March 3rd. This clinched the SL globe for him in the final regular-season slalom event. Feller, racing on home turf in Saalbach, will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with, aiming to thrill the local crowd with another stellar performance.

As the season draws to a close, the competition has been fierce. With nine races completed during the regular season, four countries saw victories, with Feller claiming four wins and Linus Strasser from Germany securing his two wins in Austria. The winners’ list also includes Marco Schwarz of Austria, Daniel Yule from Switzerland, and Yule’s teammate Loïc Meillard, further showcasing the international nature of slalom.

Eleven countries have men’s slalom skiers who qualified for the World Cup Finals Slalom. Austria led the way with six qualifiers, followed by Switzerland and Norway with four each. Both Germany and Italy had two skiers that qualified. Additionally, Great Britain, Sweden, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Greece each had one representative who made it to the World Cup Finals in slalom.

Top twenty-five 2024 regular-season World Cup slalom standings

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Twenty-five racers representing 11 countries are entered to start the Sunday, March 17th Saalbach World Cup slalom finals.

Nations Cup Men’s SL bragging rights

Adding to the excitement is the unofficial SL Men’s Nations Cup, which offers serious bragging rights. Currently, Austria leads the pack with an impressive 447-point margin over Switzerland in second place and a 517-point lead over Norway. Notably, the North American teams failed to secure a spot in the finals, marking the second consecutive year of absence.

The United States sits at 13th in the season’s standings, while Canada is 15th. While neither qualified any racers for the slalom finals, both teams have made their mark on the international stage, contributing to the intense competition witnessed throughout the season.

As anticipation builds for the Men’s World Cup Slalom Finals, the stage is clearly set for an exhilarating showdown in Saalbach, Austria. While North American slalom representation may be absent, the global talent promises to deliver a thrilling conclusion to the season on Sunday, March 17th.

How to watch the Saturday, March 16th Saalbach men’s World Cup finals slalom

The men’s first run of the night slalom will begin at 5:30 am Eastern Time, 2:30 am Pacific Time and 10:30 pm Central European Time. The second run will start at 8:30 am Eastern Time, 5:30 am Pacific Time and 1:30 pm Central European Time.

In Canada, sports enthusiasts can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports

In the USA, the men’s World Cup finals slalom will be available to view live and as a replay on the Peacock streaming service.

First run start list and the daily program for the Sunday, March 17th Saalbach World Cup Finals slalom

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The daily program for the Sunday, March 17th Saalbach World Cup Finals slalom