Matt, Feller and Schwarz Gürgl 2023: GEPA pictures
Gürgl Men’s World Cup Slalom: Who’s Racing, When, and How to Watch
The Men’s Alpine World Cup Slalom returns to Gürgl, Austria, on Nov. 24, where racers will tackle the steep and demanding Kirchenkar slope. Last year, Gürgl’s debut as a World Cup venue delivered unforgettable moments, especially for Austrian fans. The Austrian men dominated, sweeping the podium with Manuel Feller winning, followed by teammate Marco Schwarz and veteran Michael Matt. With four Austrians finishing in the top ten, the home team showed unmatched depth and skill on the high-altitude track. This year, the stakes are even higher as top athletes prepare to test their limits on one of the more technical slalom slopes of the season.
This year’s race also offers a chance at redemption and presents challenges for Austria’s top stars. Last season, Gürgl set the stage for Manuel Feller’s thrilling campaign to claim the 2023-24 slalom title, beginning with his resounding victory in front of ecstatic home fans. However, Feller’s current season started on a rough note, with a second-run DNF in Finland, leaving fans eager to see him rebound. Adding to the drama, Marco Schwarz, last year’s runner-up, is still recovering from injuries sustained in a December crash in Bormio, Italy. As the spotlight returns to Gürgl, the question remains: Can Austria’s finest reclaim their dominance on the steep and technical Kirchenkar slope?
Slalom Stars Bring Levi Momentum to Gürgl’s Demanding Slope
As the slalom season moves from Levi to Gürgl, the stakes are high for the sport’s top contenders. Austria’s Manuel Feller, last year’s winner in Gürgl, faces added pressure after a disappointing second-run DNF in Levi. Meanwhile, Germany’s Linus Strasser, last season’s overall slalom runner-up, looks to build on his seventh-place finish in Finland. France’s Clément Noël, who dominated Levi with a decisive win, aims to keep his momentum alive on Austria’s steep and technical Kirchenkar slope.
Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen and Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard, second and third in Levi, remain serious threats for victories. And Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the 2022-23 slalom champion now skiing for Brazil, is also an unpredictable force. Despite starting with bib 33, his fourth-place Levi finish confirms his determination to challenge the field. The men’s slalom discipline is fiercely competitive, and fans can expect the unexpected as the action unfolds in Gürgl.
Top 15 Men’s Slalom Standings: 2024-25 World Cup Season After Race One
Sixty-Two skiers from 24 nations will start the men’s World Cup SL in Gürgl on Nov. 24, with Austria leading the field with eight qualified athletes on the start list. Eleven countries are represented in the top 30 of the start list, with Austria leading the way with seven athletes, followed closely by Switzerland with six. This strong showing highlights the depth of talent on both teams as they set their sights on podium finishes this season.
T. Meynet (SUI) will set the first run, and T. Maitre (FRA) will set the second run.
North American Skiers on the World Cup Slalom Start List (WCSL)
One North American scored points in Levi — Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Ben Ritchie delivered a standout performance. Starting with bib 48, Ritchie posted the fifth-fastest second run to achieve a career-best 13th-place World Cup finish. His skiing proved he was ready to compete at the highest level. If conditions remain consistent, fans can look forward to another strong race from Ritchie in Gürgl. Ritchie is now ranked 36th on the WCSL.
Ritchie’s teammate, Jett Seymour, led all North American men in slalom points last season. While he didn’t finish his first run in Levi, Seymour displayed impressive speed in the opening sectors, showing he’s skiing at a level capable of making the second run. Similarly, USA’s River Radamus, ranked 48th on the Slalom World Cup Start List (WCSL), did not finish his first run in Levi either but demonstrated notable speed. Both athletes bring hope for a breakthrough on the demanding Kirchenkar slope in Gürgl, where their determination and skill could shine.
Training independently with the World Racing Academy in Italy, Canadian skier Erik Read rounds out the 2023-24 North American slalom points scorers. Ranked 47th on the World Cup Start List (WCSL), Read brings experience and potential to this season. While he didn’t finish his first run in Levi, Read showed strong speed in the second sector, signaling he could contend for points on the demanding slope in Gürgl.
North American Men on the World Cup SL Start List
North American Slalom Hopefuls Look to Shine in Gürgl
Two additional North American skiers, aiming to establish themselves on the World Cup stage, will compete in Levi.
Levi presents a pivotal opportunity for Luke Winters of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. Winters, who led U.S. slalom rankings from 2020 to 2023, faced a challenging season last year. Despite setbacks, he has a strong track record, having qualified for the World Cup Finals in 2022, and he earned a career-best finish of 7th in Flachau. With a FIS slalom rank of 120, he starts at the end of the field. Although he too did not finish the first run, he showed qualifying speed in the first sector.
Canada’s Simon Fournier, an independent racer training with the World Racing Academy, brings valuable experience to Gürgl despite not finishing his first run in Levi. The 2023-24 NorAm overall champion has 23 World Cup starts under his belt and aims to use that experience to secure a strong result, even from a later start position.
North American men racing SL in Levi
- Bib 34, Jett Seymour, Stifel USST, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, University of Denver
- Bib 45, Erik Read, CAN World Racing Academy, Banff Alpine Racers, University of Denver, Atomic
- Bib 48, Benjamin Ritchie, Stifel USST, Green Mountain Valley School, HEAD, SYNC Protection
- Bib 49, River Radamus, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, SYNC Protection
- Bib 54, Simon Fournier, Mont Tremblant Ski Club, University of Denver, SYNC
- Bib 57, Luke Winters, Stifel USST, Sugar Bowl Ski Academy, SYNC Protection
How and When to Watch
The first run starts at 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time and 1:30 a.m. Pacific Time, followed by the second run at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time and 4:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
U.S. audiences can watch the race live or as a replay on Peacock.
Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.
Daily Program and First Run Start List
Click images to enlarge or download
Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
