Feller (AUT), Zehaeusern (SUI), Shwarz (AUT) 2020 podium GEPA pictures
Alta Badia Men’s World Cup Slalom: Who’s Racing, When, and How to Watch
A Slalom Stage for Champions
The Gran Risa in Alta Badia, Italy, is a legendary venue that has challenged and celebrated the world’s best slalom racers. With a maximum gradient of 69% on its steepest sections, the slalom slope demands balance and agility from every skier who takes on the course. Known for its hard, icy conditions and shadowed sections, the slope has hosted iconic slalom races that etched memorable moments into World Cup history.
Past winners of the Gran Risa slalom include skiing greats like Jean-Baptiste Grange, Marcel Hirscher, and Ivica Kostelić. Most recently, Switzerland’s Ramon Zenhäusern claimed victory in 2020, demonstrating the mix of talent that has succeeded on this demanding track.
As the final men’s slalom before a brief holiday break, the Dec. 23 race will once again see the world’s best skiers take on the Gran Risa, hoping to add their names to this prestigious list of winners.
Noël’s Return: A Boost for the Competition
The best news heading into Alta Badia is that Clément Noël is on the start list. Noël was forced to miss his home slalom in Val d’Isère after suffering an ankle injury in a giant slalom crash. His absence opened the door for other contenders, but the French star dominated the first two slaloms of the season and remains a title favorite.
Noël has been testing his recovery in Pfelders, a training destination in the Italian Dolomites known for its excellent early-season conditions. Reports suggest he has been evaluating his situation there, including as recently as today. Fans are hopeful that they’ll see a nearly 100% Noël on Sunday, ready to reclaim his early-season momentum and challenge for the win.
The Men’s Slalom Season Nearing 33% Completion
The 2024-25 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup men’s slalom season delivers thrilling competition. With three races completed and nine more scheduled, the Alta Badia slalom on Dec. 23 marks the season’s 33% milestone.
In Levi, Finland, Clément Noël opened the season with an impressive victory, showcasing his technical mastery. Norwegian star Henrik Kristoffersen took second place, and Loïc Meillard rounded out the podium in third.
The second race, held in Gurgl, Austria, saw Noël extend his early-season dominance with another win. Sweden’s Kristoffer Jakobsen achieved a career-best second place, while Atle Lie McGrath claimed third, proving his consistency.
Val d’Isère, France, brought a dramatic turn of events when Noël was unable to compete due to an injury sustained racing GS the day before the slalom. This opened the door for Kristoffersen, who capitalized with his first slalom victory of the season. His Norwegian teammate, McGrath, finished second, while Meillard secured third, continuing his strong start to the season.
As the World Cup slalom circuit moves to Alta Badia, the field remains highly competitive. With Noël’s status uncertain and Kristoffersen, McGrath, and Meillard consistently in podium contention, the battle for slalom supremacy is intensifying.
List of 2024-25 Slalom Winners
- Levi, Finland: Clément Noël
- Gurgl, Austria: Clément Noël
- Val d’Isère, France: Henrik Kristoffersen
Current Top 15 2024-25 Season’s SL Rank
Click image to enlarge
Notable Athletes Among the Top 15
With Kristoffersen leading the standings by just 20 points over Noël and Meillard trailing by 55 points, the race for the slalom title remains wide open. Several standout stories from the top 15 highlight this season’s fierce competition and unpredictability.
Tanguy Nef, a former Dartmouth skier known for flashes of brilliance but also inconsistency, has fought his way into the top 15 early in the season. This strong start marks a significant step for the Swiss racer as he looks to establish himself as a regular contender.
Samuel Kolega is also turning heads with his best early-season performances to date. Long considered a rising talent, Kolega’s results are cementing his reputation as a name to watch in this highly competitive field.
Last season’s slalom champion, Manuel Feller, has returned to the top 15 after a solid fourth-place finish in Val d’Isère. Now ranked 12th, the Austrian has plenty of time to reclaim his dominant form and defend his title if he can rediscover his winning touch.
Meanwhile, Linus Strasser, last season’s slalom runner-up, has struggled out of the gate. After failing to finish in both Gurgl and Val d’Isère, Strasser is ranked 22nd and faces mounting pressure to deliver strong results. However, his proven ability to win back-to-back races last season shows that a quick turnaround remains possible.
These storylines emphasize the tight margins and fierce competition in the 2024-25 season, as top athletes battle to stay at the peak of their game.
A Global Field for Alta Badia
Seventy-two men from 22 nations will compete in the men’s World Cup slalom in Alta Badia on Dec. 23. Among the first 30 on the start list, 12 countries are represented, with Austria leading the way with seven athletes. This strong presence highlights the depth of talent in the Austrian slalom team as they aim for podium success this season.
W. Erharter (AUT) will set the first run, and C. Enocsson (SWE) will set the second run.
Promising Start for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team has shown promise in the opening three slaloms of the 2024-25 season, with two athletes earning World Cup points and competing effectively against the world’s best.
Ben Ritchie leads the North American contingent and is currently ranked 24th in the season slalom standings. He opened his season with an impressive 13th-place finish in Levi and followed it up with a 21st-place result in Gürgl, Austria. His consistent early performances have positioned him as a reliable contender for the team.
Jett Seymour is ranked 38th after scoring his first points of the season in Val d’Isère, where he delivered a strong 21st-place finish. He had competed in Levi and Gürgl, but his result in Val d’Isère marked his breakthrough performance this season. With momentum on his side, Seymour will aim to build on this result as the circuit moves to Alta Badia.
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s slalom squad continues to show its potential, with Ritchie’s top-25 ranking and Seymour breaking into the standings providing a solid foundation for what could be a breakthrough season.
Erik Read: Canadian Experience and Momentum
Canadian skier Erik Read, training independently with the World Racing Academy, brings experience and determination to Alta Badia. Ranked 49th on the World Cup Start List, he scored his first points of the season with a strong performance in the Alta Badia giant slalom, marking a positive turn after early struggles.
Read, along with Luke Winters, Seymour and fellow Canadian Simon Fournier, is one of the North Americans with experience racing slalom on the Gran Risa. In 2020, the last time the slope hosted a slalom, he finished 16th. With his slalom reportedly sharper than his GS this season, optimism surrounds his potential in Sunday’s race.
Other North Americans Looking for Points
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s River Radamus, leader of the men’s GS team and currently on the World Cup Start List for slalom, will aim to secure his first slalom points of the season. Winters, who has led the U.S. slalom team in recent years and was the last North American to qualify for World Cup finals in men’s slalom, will also look to get on the board. Canadian independent skier Fournier rounds out the group of hopefuls seeking their first slalom points of the year.
North American Men on the World Cup SL Start List
Four North American skiers on the World Cup Slalom Start List are set to compete in Alta Badia. Three represent the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, while Canada’s Erik Read, competing independently, brings his experience and determination to the field.
North American men racing SL in Val d’Isère
- Bib 32, Jett Seymour, Stifel USST, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, University of Denver
- Bib 36, Benjamin Ritchie, Stifel USST, Green Mountain Valley School, HEAD
- Bib 43, Erik Read, CAN World Racing Academy, Banff Alpine Racers, University of Denver, Atomic
- Bib 46, River Radamus, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, SYNC Shields
- Bib 58, Simon Fournier, Mont Tremblant Ski Club, University of Denver, SYNC
- Bib 70, Luke Winters, Stifel USST, Sugar Bowl Ski Academy, SYNC Shields
How and When to Watch
The first run starts at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time and 1:00 a.m. Pacific Time, followed by the second run at 7:30 a.m. Eastern and 4:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
U.S. audiences can watch the race live or as a replay on Ski And Snowboard Live.
Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.
Daily Program and First Run Start List
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First Run Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
