Featured Image: World Championships slalom podium. Credit:
What is the saying? “All good things must come to an end?” The stadium crowd and spectators around the globe celebrate an incredible World Championship event by vibrantly cheering for the men’s final slalom run. This run marks the last battle of the 48th World Championship event in Saalbach, Austria.
The final flush was an exhilarating aspect of the second run course. In the last turns, the men had to dance with quick feet, full cha-cha mode, to achieve the fast-paced combination. This lit up the audience and added to the vibrancy in the arena.
In the initial run, Clément Noël of France was the first out of the gate and set a pace that proved challenging to overcome. He came into this second run with a -0.19 lead ahead of Swiss athlete Loïc Meillard.
Loïc Meillard knew he had to execute flawlessly to make up almost two-tenths in the final run. The pressure was on, but Meillard looked unfazed from the beginning. The Swiss athlete continued to remain composed from gate to gate and unleashed in the final turns to take the lead.
It was nail-biting as he waited to see if Clement Noël would hold onto his lead. Sadly, Noël straddled in the lower section of the course, which awarded Meillard his first individual World Championship victory.
“I really like this slope, and I have always felt good here. You have to work the whole time, and you can never let go on one turn; that is something I like,” Meillard explained.
Meillard’s victory was the first World Championship gold for Switzerland in 75 years in men’s slalom.
“75 years ago my parents were not even born, so it is hard to put it into words. But I finished the two World Championships in the perfect way,” he stated.
He further expressed, “It is crazy; it’s crazy. Yesterday, Camille did it for Switzerland and now me. I don’t have the words.”
Switzerland achieved a remarkable total of 13 medals, including five golds, at this year’s World Championships, marking the best performance by a single nation since Austria recorded the same tally in 1999.
Norway Takes Silver
Before the Norwegian, Atle Lie McGrath, kicked out of the start, his coach said through the radio, “Don’t let the piste kick you around. Good impulse.”
McGrath came into the second run over six-tenths behind Noël’s lead. He knew he had to lay down a strong run in full-attack mode. He ignited at the beginning of the course but lost some speed in the midsection. Nevertheless, he remained confident and picked up his tempo in the final turns.
With his superb second run, he clinched the silver medal, achieving his first World Championship medal. This was an impressive personal best for the 24-year-old as he was yet to finish better than 5th (Alpine Combined in 2023) in five world championship races.
A Bronze for Germany
Linus Strasser of Germany was +0.77 behind the lead coming into the second run, so he knew he had to do something big to move up to medaling position.
He powered through the initial gates, setting a strong tempo. Strasser remained composed on the steeper section and then let it go through the final dance. This was a milestone for the 32-year-old, achieving his first World Championship medal.
Feller Shines In Front of Local Fans
The 2024 World Cup slalom globe winner, Manuel Feller, executed the second run in his typical full send fashion. He held nothing back and was able to reach through the finish with a successful lead, pushing Dave Ryding out of the leader’s chair by -0.72.
However, it was not enough to claim a medal. Feller finished just off the podium in 4th place.
Kristoffersen: The Reigning World Champion
Henrik Kristoffersen came into the second run +1.59 behind. Although the reigning World Champion was behind, he is not new to a second-run comeback. In the 2023 Courchevel World Championships, he laid down a second-run charge that propelled him into the gold medal position. That was his first World Championship gold of his career.
He stated after that win, “I have won 23 World Cup (slalom) races; I was about 50 times on the podium, but this is my first gold medal. Maybe it’s the right time.”
Unfortunately, the Norwegian could not relive that moment as he slightly overskied the critical parts of the course and lost time. He finished the slalom in 13th place.
North Americans
Erik Read of Alpine Canada Alpin was the first North American to punch the second run of the slalom. This season, his only result on the World Cup circuit in slalom was 21st place in Kitzbühel.
The Canadian found his rhythm off the bat and was looking solid on and off his edges. He lost a little speed on the turny, steep section but battled to the end. He finished in 24th place.
Jett Seymour of the Stifel US Ski Team was the other North American to crack the top 30 in the first run. On the second run, he was solid at the top and executed the pitch with grit.
Then, through the final gates, he let go, barely holding it together to make up the time to ski into the leader’s chair. He concluded the day in 21st place.
Notable: World Cup points are not awarded at the World Championships, but the top 15 finishers earn World Cup Start List points, which impact their starting positions in future downhill races.
Top 3 Analysis
Top 30 Analysis
North American Analysis
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
