Chamonix Slalom Thrills: Clement Noel Leads Home Crowd Hopes into Finale

Jett Seymour: GEPA pictures/Matic Klansek

Chamonix’s Verte race venue buzzed with anticipation as the world’s top racers geared up for a thrilling showdown. Amidst the towering peaks and eager spectators, French favorite Clement Noel vowed to dazzle his home crowd. And dazzle he did. With the first run behind them, the stage was set for a gripping finale, where every turn will determine who will end the day victorious.

In the shadow of Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, bib two Noel delivered for his home country fans. Skiing with clean precision, he attacked the course and earned a (-0.23) advantage over the morning’s second fastest, Norwegian bib seven Timon Haugen. Noel used the fastest final sector to earn his lead.

As expected, the home country fans loved his efforts and displayed their appreciation with a roar of applause.

However, after the first 15 skiers had completed their first run, eight racers could deliver skiing that put them within a second of the leader. The entire group of 15 were able to finish their runs. The 15 skiers were separated by (1.93). By the end of the run the number of athletes within a second of the lead grew to nine.

Unusually, it was the 21st skier, Germany’s Sebastian Holzmann, who became the first racer not to finish., representing an incredibly high finish rate. Only two had not finished after the first 30 skied the first course. The Verte race slope of Chamonix is easy and flat, and with excellent conditions, racers could be very aggressive without excess risk.

Notably, the season’s slalom leader, Austrian Manuel Feller, had the third-fastest first run and trails Noel by (+0.40).

North Americans

Seeing Stifel US Ski Team’s Jett Seymour executing a tremendous first run is exciting. He finished seven in Chamonix last season, earning his only career World Cup points. In today’s competition, he used bib 37 to put himself in a great position to deliver another great result. He was 15th fastest in the morning (+1.21). Unfortunately, his two teammates did not finish.

None of the three Canadians could ski fast enough to earn their way into the final run. Bib 51 Asher Jordan skied well but finished the morning ranked 37th (+2.22).

Course conditions

Once again, the FIS and the Chamonix race crew fought a lack of snow and warm temperatures but delivered a superior race surface. After weeks of work, they watered and salted the course on Saturday, and on Sunday, it delivered a remarkable surface. At lower elevation courses, it has become common to see the grass outside the fences of the course; Chamonix is one of those venues.

High bib success

Due to the high finish rate, later starters had limited opportunity to earn their way into the finale. However, great skiing was rewarded. Four racers with bibs above 30 qualified. The fastest was bib 37 USA’s Jett Seymour 15th (+1.21). The last to do so was bib 47 Austrian Joshua Sturm 29th (+1.92). The time differential among the fastest 30 was (1.93).

As the first run ended, the anticipation grew for the exhilarating finale yet to come. With the afternoon sun casting its golden glow on the slopes of Chamonix, the stage is set for a dramatic second run. As racers catch their breath and recalibrate their strategies, the mountain awaits the unfolding of another chapter in ski racing history. Stay tuned as the tension mounts and champions emerge amidst the breathtaking beauty of the alpine landscape.

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

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Analysis of the fastest three and qualified North Americans