Feller, Haugan, Strasser Saalbach finals 2024: GEPA pictures
Saalbach Men’s World Championship Slalom: Who’s Racing, When, and How to Watch
The Saalbach World Championships Come to a Close With the Men’s Slalom
The 2025 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships will conclude on Sunday, February 16, with the men’s slalom. This final event will give skiers one last chance to fight for a world title before Saalbach-Hinterglemm bids farewell to an incredible two weeks of racing. Athletes, fans, and organizers will celebrate the sport, honor new champions, and reflect on a thrilling championship filled with high-speed action, dramatic finishes, and unforgettable performances.
A Demanding Slalom Test
Saalbach-Hinterglemm’s men’s slalom course presents a demanding test of endurance, power and skill. With a vertical drop of 219 meters (719 feet), the course requires skiers to hold their timing and focus over an extended run. While relatively flat compared to other World Cup slalom venues, it still demands that skiers compete at their best. The world’s leading skiers will need quick reflexes and nearly flawless execution to contend for gold.
The Reigning World Champion and 2023 Podium Finishers
Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen enters Saalbach as the defending World Slalom Champion and remains one of the top contenders for gold. He won the title in Courchevel-Méribel 2023 and continues to prove his consistency, leading the 2025 World Cup slalom standings with multiple podium finishes this season.
Greece’s AJ Ginnis, who made history by winning silver in 2023, will not compete in Saalbach after undergoing knee surgery to address chronic pain. His absence opens the door for new challengers to step onto the podium.
Italy’s Alex Vinatzer, who claimed bronze at the last World Championships, remains a threat. He showed strong form in Kitzbühel, finishing second, but currently sits 17th in the World Cup slalom standings. If he finds his best skiing, he could fight for another medal.
With Kristoffersen aiming to defend his title and a competitive field hungry for gold, the men’s slalom promises an exciting finale to the Saalbach 2025 FIS Alpine World Championships.
Last Season’s Saalbach Podium
At the 2024 World Cup Finals, Norway’s Timon Haugan claimed a decisive victory on this very slope in Saalbach, finishing ahead of Austrian favorite Manuel Feller and Germany’s Linus Strasser. That day, Feller secured the season-long slalom title, while Strasser capped his year with two major wins in Kitzbühel and Schladming, finishing second in the standings.
This season, Haugan enters the World Championships ranked fourth, Strasser sits seventh, and Feller is ninth. All three are legitimate threats for the podium. With the energy Austrian skiers draw from the home crowd, Feller could be poised for his first podium of the season on the sport’s biggest stage.
Podium Contenders
This season has delivered thrilling battles between established stars and rising talents. Clément Nöel has dominated with four World Cup wins in Levi, Gürgl, Adelboden, and Kitzbühel, cementing his position as a slalom force. Kristoffersen, sitting first, has consistently earned podiums, including his win in Val d’Isère. Norway’s depth shined in Wengen, where Atle Lie McGrath, Haugan, and Kristoffersen swept the podium.
Albert Popov’s breakthrough win in Madonna di Campiglio emphasized the growing international depth in men’s slalom. Loïc Meillard has secured multiple podiums, while Pinheiro Braathen continues to impress by rising to contend with the leaders. The remaining World Cup slaloms and the World Championships promise high-stakes action and bold performances.
Analysis of National Representation in the Slalom Top 15 Standings
Number of Countries Represented
Among the top 15 slalom skiers, eight different countries are represented. Norway and Switzerland are the strongest nations in terms of numbers, with three skiers each. Austria and France have two skiers each, while Germany, Brazil, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Great Britain have one each.
Strength of the Top Five Nations
The top five consists of three Norwegians, one French skier, and one Swiss skier. Norway’s dominance at the top is clear, with three of the best-ranked skiers, showing both depth and consistency. France has one skier in second place, making them a strong contender for the title, while Switzerland rounds out the top three, proving its strength in technical events.
With Norway holding the numbers advantage, the World Championship race will test whether that depth will lead to gold or if an individual standout from another nation can take the crown
Current Top 15 2024-25 Season’s SL Rankings
Click the images to enlarge
Season Overview: Podium Battles and World Championship Implications
2024-25 Slalom Season So Far
The 2024-25 slalom season has delivered intense battles among the world’s best, with nine of the twelve races completed. Clément Noël leads all racers with four victories, while Timon Haugan has won twice. Henrik Kristoffersen has only won once but leads the World Cup standings thanks to his remarkable consistency, securing five podiums. Atle Lie McGrath and Albert Popov have also claimed victories, adding to the depth of contenders heading into Saalbach.
However, in Saalbach, the focus shifts entirely to the World Championship title—no World Cup points are awarded, only the honor of being crowned the best slalom skier on the biggest stage.
Season Podium Results So Far
- Levi, Finland – Clément Noël (FRA), Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), Loïc Meillard (SUI)
- Gürgl, Austria – Clément Noël (FRA), Kristoffer Jakobsen (SWE), Atle Lie McGrath (NOR)
- Val d’Isère, France – Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), Atle Lie McGrath (NOR), Loïc Meillard (SUI)
- Alta Badia, Italy – Timon Haugan (NOR), Loïc Meillard (SUI), Atle Lie McGrath (NOR)
- Madonna di Campiglio, Italy – Albert Popov (BUL), Loïc Meillard (SUI), Samuel Kolega (CRO)
- Adelboden, Switzerland – Clément Noël (FRA), Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA), Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR)
- Wengen, Switzerland – Atle Lie McGrath (NOR), Timon Haugan (NOR), Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR)
- Kitzbühel, Austria – Clément Noël (FRA), Alex Vinatzer (ITA), Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA)
- Schladming, Austria – Timon Haugan (NOR), Manuel Feller (AUT), Fabio Gstrein (AUT)
With Schladming marking the final slalom before the Saalbach World Championships, the anticipation is high. The battle for gold will come down to the most prepared and composed racer on Sunday.
A Global Field
One hundred men from 58 countries will compete in the World Championship Slalom in Saalbach on Sunday, Feb. 16.
O. Masdal (NOR) has set the first run, and K. Page (FRA) will set the second run.
North Americans with 2024-25 World Cup Slalom Points
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team
Benjamin Ritchie: A Breakout Season
Benjamin Ritchie, the 2021 Junior World Slalom Champion, is having his best season yet. He scored seven out of nine slaloms, including two top-10s, with a season-best eighth in Madonna di Campiglio.
Now ranked 19th with 124 points, he has more than five times his previous best season total. Though still young, he has raced in two World Championships, finishing 13th in 2021.
As the Stifel U.S. Ski Team slalom leader, Ritchie confidently enters Saalbach, aiming for his highest championship result yet.
Jett Seymour: Speed with Potential
Jett Seymour, a Stifel U.S. Ski Team member and First Team All-American from the University of Denver, has made strides this season. He has scored in three races, with his best result in Alta Badia before Christmas. With 44 points, he sits 35th in the standings and has already surpassed his previous best season, with two regular-season slaloms remaining.
Seymour has raced in two World Championships (2021 and 2023) but did not finish either event. His speed is undeniable—if he can put two solid runs together, he has the potential for a strong result in Saalbach.
River Radamus: Versatile and Fearless
River Radamus is the Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s all-around skier, best known for his success in giant slalom but unafraid to race across disciplines. This season, he has scored once in slalom, finishing 27th in Alta Badia, Italy, and currently sits 52nd in the World Cup slalom standings.
Saalbach marks his third World Championship appearance, but it will be his first time competing in slalom. With his talent and adaptability, Radamus has the potential to break into the top 15.
Luke Winters: A Proven Talent Seeking a Breakthrough
Luke Winters has previously led the Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s slalom program but has struggled to regain top form over the past two seasons. However, in 2022, he scored 129 slalom points and qualified for the World Cup Finals, proving his ability to compete at the highest level.
Winters has raced in two World Championships (2021 and 2023) and has earned three career top-10 World Cup slalom finishes, showing he can ski with the best. While his recent results have not matched his potential, he remains a proven performer, capable of delivering a breakthrough result in Saalbach.
Erik Read: Canada’s Lone Representative
Erik Read has scored World Cup slalom points for 11 straight seasons, a testament to his consistency and experience. This season, his best slalom result came in Kitzbühel, where he finished 21st, placing him 48th in the World Cup slalom standings with 10 points.
A University of Denver graduate and First Team All-American, Read has competed in five previous World Championships (2015-2023), with 24th as his best slalom finish in 2015. Historically stronger in giant slalom, the 33-year-old says his slalom is gaining momentum.
Now skiing as an independent racer, Read trains with the World Racing Academy in Italy and will be Canada’s only entrant in the Saalbach 2025 men’s slalom.
North American Men Racing Slalom
- Bib 24, Benjamin Ritchie, Stifel USST, Green Mountain Valley School, HEAD
- Bib 31, Jett Seymour, Stifel USST, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, University of Denver
- Bib 37, Erik Read, CAN World Racing Academy, Banff Alpine Racers, University of Denver, Atomic
- Bib 38, River Radamus, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, SYNC Protection
- Bib 54, Luke Winters, Stifel USST, Sugar Bowl Ski Academy, SYNC Shields
Anticipation Builds for Slalom’s Grand Finale
The men’s slalom at the Saalbach 2025 FIS Alpine World Championships promises to deliver one final day of high-intensity racing. With top contenders battling for gold, dark horses looking to break through, and national pride on the line, the stage is set for an unforgettable showdown.
Norway, France, and Switzerland enter with strong podium hopes, while Austria’s home crowd will be eager to push their racers onto the podium. The Stifel U.S. Ski Team has multiple athletes looking to make an impact, and Canada’s lone representative, Erik Read, seeks his best championship finish.
With tight margins and razor-sharp competition, every turn will count. A new world champion will be crowned, bringing the Saalbach World Championships to a dramatic close.
How and When to Watch
The first run starts at 3:45 a.m. Eastern and 12:45 a.m. Pacific Time. The second run is set for 7:15 a.m. Eastern and 4:15 a.m. Pacific Time.
U.S. audiences can watch the race live or as a replay on Ski and Snowboard Live.
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
First Run Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
