Adelboden Slalom: Norwegian Dominance: 3 North Americans Qualify

Alexander Steen Olsen GEPA / Mathias Mandl

Adelboden delivered a dramatic morning of slalom. Fans have been waiting to see the talented young Norwegian slalom squad rise to the top. The wait has ended. The first run leader is Norwegian bib 15 Alexander Steen Olsen. The twenty-two-year-old Steen Olseen skied the final two sectors with explosive speed to take the lead from his teammate and friend, bib 12 Atle Lie McGrath. The two young Norwegians at the top of the rankings are joined in the top six by their veteran teammate, Henrik Kristoffersen.

Italy’s Tommaso Sala executed a near-perfect final sector into the finish to execute the third-best first run. The exciting skier who has never accomplished a World Cup podium is in an ideal position to do so in the afternoon.

After the first run of the Adelboden slalom, there were 12 racers within a second of Steen Olsen. With great skiing, all twelve are in a position to earn a step on the podium during the afternoon edition.

While the fog challenged the racers, the FIS and Adelboden race crews supplied the best possible race surface. Good skiing was rewarded throughout the morning run. One of the racers to take full advantage of the opportunity was bib 25 Croatia’s Samuel Kolega, who finished the morning tied for sixth with Kristoffersen.

For the first time this season multiple North Americans have qualified for the second run. The dependable Canadian veteran Erik Read (+2.02) qualified 24th. Also, Stifel US Ski Team member Ben Ritchie (+2.34) has qualified for the first time this season, tied for 30th. However, the most excitement came when the bib 70 River Radamus, the final morning racer, crossed the finish line in 29th place and qualified for his first World Cup slalom finale. All three men will have advantageous start positions for the finale, and good skiing will be rewarded.

Six athletes with bibs above 30 qualified for the afternoon finale. The fastest was bib 35 Austrian Dominik Raschner (+1.18), with the 16th fastest morning time. The last to do so was the final skier of the morning, Stifel US Ski Team member bib 70 River Radamus (+2.34) 29th. Notably, 26 athletes were unable to finish the course.

It was another foggy morning, but that didn’t deter the Swiss crowd. Predictably, they energetically exploded every time a racer appeared in their view. If you like loud crowds, Adelboden is one of the great places to race. There were three Swiss athletes among the first seven to ski and the crowd took the opportunity to go from energetic to explosive.

Top 30 first-run Adelboden slalom results and analysis of the fastest three and North Americans who qualified

Click on images to enlarge

Analysis of the fastest three and North Americans who qualified