Timon Haugan: Photo Heather Black
Haugen wins season-ending slalom at Stifel Sun Valley World Cup Finals
SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Norway’s Timon Haugen ended the 2025 season with a statement. The 27-year-old powered through his second run to take victory in the men’s slalom and the Alpine World Cup season’s final run at the Stifel Sun Valley World Cup Finals.
Haugen held off France’s Clément Noël by just 0.03 seconds to claim his third slalom win of the season, finishing with a combined time of 1:43.61. Austria’s Fabio Gstrein skied into third, 0.37 back, to secure his second career World Cup podium.
Top 3 – Sun Valley Men’s Slalom
- Timon Haugen (NOR) – 1:43.61
- Clément Noël (FRA) – +0.03
- Fabio Gstrein (AUT) – +0.37
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Haugen seals third win—and third in standings—with composed final run
“Very nervous, both runs,” said Timon Haugen, who closed out the World Cup season with a thrilling win in Sun Valley. “Especially the second run. Going last is a completely different ball game—it was hard with the tracks. I’m so happy with how it ended.”
Haugen’s confident skiing in soft, salted snow showed the benefits of Norway’s deep training on similar conditions.
“We Scandinavians kind of like this salty snow,” he said. “I think the way the hill was set really suited my strengths—medium terrain where I can just link the turns and go clean.”
Off the hill, Haugen embraced the Western charm of the host town. “We went shopping, bought cowboy hats and belt buckles—it was a lot of fun. I really like this town.”
The Norwegian finished third in the final slalom standings, repeating his position from a year ago. “It was tight in the standings and tight today,” he said. “Sometimes the hundredths are on your side, and today I’m thankful they were.”
Noël ends season with pride and frustration
“It was pretty tough—the snow was soft and it was spring conditions,” said Clément Noël, who finished second in the final race of the season. “But I was really happy with the feeling I had today.”
Despite four victories and five podiums, Noël admitted the season ending stung a little.
“I don’t really feel like I deserve to finish fourth in the standings, which stings a bit today,” he said. “But it was a great season—except maybe for World Champs, which was a big disappointment.”
Looking ahead, Noël plans to take time to rest and reflect before targeting even more consistency next year.
Gstrein earns second career podium in best season yet
“A podium is always good,” said Austria’s Fabio Gstrein after skiing to third place in the season-ending slalom. “It’s my second podium, and I’m really happy with my skiing today—even with a small mistake before the finish.”
Gstrein embraced the warm, salted conditions, saying his team trained specifically for it in the lead-up. “We waited until noon to train in the sun and soft snow. We knew it could be like this, and it worked well.”
Reflecting on the season, Gstrein said it was his most consistent yet.
“The whole season is a highlight for me—it’s been my best so far,” he said. “It just kept getting better, and I want to keep going that way next year.”
The Austrian also praised the Sun Valley venue and atmosphere. “People were amazing and very friendly, and the ski area is great,” he said. “It’s always fun to come to a new spot and race there.”
Kristoffersen claims fourth slalom globe
Henrik Kristoffersen didn’t win the race, but he won the season. The Norwegian star entered Thursday with a strong lead in the standings and secured the 2025 slalom globe by finishing fourth on the day. His smooth second run guaranteed enough points to stay ahead of both Noël and Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard, locking in his fourth career slalom title (2016, 2020, 2022, 2025).
Final 2025 Men’s Slalom Standings
- Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) – Slalom globe winner
- Loïc Meillard (SUI)
- Timon Haugen (NOR)
Meillard, the newly crowned slalom World Champion, posted the fastest second run and briefly held the lead but ultimately settled for fifth place. Noël did everything he could, crossing the finish with the lead and ending the race second, but he needed to win and have Kristoffersen finish outside the top 15 to have a chance at the title.
Kristoffersen reflects on pressure and pride after fourth globe
“Days like this are hell, to be honest,” Kristoffersen said after clinching his fourth career slalom globe. “I’ve done it a few times now and it just gets tougher. The pressure, the mental toll—it doesn’t get easier. But I’ll look back at this with gratitude, for sure. Four globes in nine years, that’s something I’m proud of. It takes everything—on your mind, on your body, on your family—but that’s the life we choose.”
USA’s Ritchie delivers career-best in final race
The home crowd roared as Ben Ritchie of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team attacked the second run with power, quickness, and great timing. The 24-year-old moved up eight places to finish seventh—a career-best World Cup result and his third top-10 of the season.
Ritchie skied the fifth-fastest second run of the day and led the race for six starters, only getting knocked out of the hot seat by Meillard. When Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen was later disqualified for straddling, Ritchie was guaranteed to finish no lower than seventh.
It was a fitting close to a breakout year for the American, who competed in his first World Cup Finals after a strong season working with coach Tristan Glasse-Davies.
Ritchie caps breakout season with career-best seventh
“My biggest goal this season was to qualify for Finals,” said Ben Ritchie, who finished seventh in the final slalom of the year. “Starting the season ranked somewhere around 43rd, it means a lot to move into the top 25 and not just settle for that—to finish it off with my best result is great.”
“After the first run I skied a bit tentatively, but that kind of fired me up,” he added. “I took more risk the second run, and I’m proud of how I attacked it.”
The 24-year-old praised Sun Valley’s volunteers and race crew, calling the hill “super cool” and familiar from past events. He now turns his focus to U.S. Nationals and long-term goals, including improving his ranking and preparing for next year’s Olympics.
How the race built to a dramatic finish
Croatia’s Filip Zubčić led after the first five racers before Austria’s Dominik Raschner briefly took over. Then came Ritchie, whose explosive effort put him in the lead with a 0.59 advantage over the field. He held that lead until Meillard’s attacking run changed the tone of the afternoon.
Linus Strasser (GER) and Braathen (BRA) both challenged but came up short—Strasser took sixth, and Braathen’s disqualification pushed him out of the results. Gstrein then knocked Meillard off the podium, and Kristoffersen’s steady second run gave him the lead in the standings and confirmed his globe.
With only two left, Noël surged into the lead, setting up a tense finish. But Haugen, the first-run leader and final skier of the 2025 season, answered with a composed and commanding run, sealing both the win and an unforgettable finish to a spectacular year of racing.
Slalom Results
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Race analysis of the fastest three and Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Ben Ritchie
About the Author: Peter Lange
