Men’s slalom skiers invited to the 2023 Andorra finals

Henrik Kristoffersen 2022 slalom title winner: GEPA Photos

At the completion of every regular World Cup season, the best 25 in each discipline are invited to compete in their event at the World Cup Finals. Also, the FIS invites the reigning FIS World Junior Champion to compete in their discipline. This season’s slalom junior champion is Italy’s, Corrado Barbera. Assuming he decides to race in Soldeu it will be his first World Cup start. Also, the overall title contenders are allowed to compete if they have 500 points or more. As it stands at the moment, this season three of those who haven’t raced slalom can compete..

The average age of the best 25 men’s slalom skiers of the season is 28.6. Notably, only five of them are under the age of 25. The youngest is Norwegian, Alexander Steen Olsen, 21 and the oldest is Italy’s Stefano Gross who is 36. Notably, the average age of the 2022-23 World Cup slalom winners was 26. The average age of the top 10 is 29, but two are under the age of 23.

The Norwegians have won four slaloms with a 22-year-old (3) and a 21-year-old (1). After including the 28-year-old Kristoffersen, a Norwegian, stood on the top step of a World Cup slalom podium this season six times.

Men’s slalom in the only discipline that has completed it regular season. Oddly it was the last event to start the season and the first to finish.

This season it took 91 slalom World Cup points to qualify for the finals. Uniquely there were three athletes who finished the regular season with that total. Notably, 10th in the standings, Atle Lie McGrath will not race in the finals due to a knee injury experienced at the 2023 Courchevel World Championships.

The men’s World Cup slalom final is scheduled for March 19th in Soldeu, Andorra.

Eleven nations have an athlete ranked in the top 25 slalom season standings.

• Norway has 6
• Switzerland has 4
• Austria has 4
• Italy has 3 and the Junior World Champion
• France has 2
• Germany has 1
• Great Britain has 1
• Bulgaria has 1
• Sweden has 1
• Greece has 1
• Croatia has 1

Mathematically four racers remain in contention for the 2023 slalom title. Norway’s Lucas Braathen enters the finals with a 32-point advantage over teammate Henrik Kristoffersen and a 65-point advantage over Swiss skier Daniel Yule. Additionally, Switzerland’s Ramon Zenhaeusern trails by 99 points but remains mathematically in contention to earn the slalom title in Andora.

Due to the limited field size, only the top 15 finishers earn World Cup points at the World Cup finals.

Top 25 2023 men’s slalom skiers

Click on images to enlarge

Unfortunately, none of the talented US or Canadian men qualified for the 2023 slalom finals.