Fabian Ax Swartz is currently a fast-rising talent in Swedish ski racing and will make his World Cup debut on Saturday in Gurgl (AUT). The 19-year-old earned the second Swedish start spot alongside Kristoffer Jakobsen in an FIS slalom in Storklinten, Sweden. In the association’s internal qualifier, Swartz, who secured slalom silver behind Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR) at the 2022 Junior World Championships in Panorama (CAN), outperformed Adam Hofstedt, the silver medalist in the slalom at the 2023 Junior World Cha

Currently holding the title of Swedish slalom champion, Ax Swartz has climbed from rank 205 to 69th on the slalom FIS points list over only two winters. “My goal, of course, is to be in the top 30 in the first run and qualify to participate in the second run. But that won’t be easy. After all, there is a lot of competition, and it’s my first time at this level. So we’ll wait and see what happens on Saturday,” says Ax Swartz.

Marcel Hirscher, the former World Cup dominator, and Toni Giger, the Sports Director at Van Deer-Red Bull Sports, have taken notice of the young Swede’s talent. Toni Giger has signed the Scandinavian to Van Deer-Red Bull Sports. This move means that the newest ski brand in the World Cup will be represented in Gurgl by three athletes: slalom world champion Henrik Kristoffersen, Timon Haugan, and World Cup newcomer Fabian Ax Swartz. “Fabian’s talent and dedication to skiing impress us. His move to Salzburg shows his connection to our company and his commitment to being in an optimal training environment.”

Source: skidor.com