Marco Odermatt Schladming 2024: GEPA pictures
Schladming World Cup Night GS 2025: Men’s World Cup GS: Who’s Racing, When, and How to Watch
Schladming Night Giant Slalom: A Spectacle Under the Lights
The Schladming Night Giant Slalom on the Planai slope is one of the most electrifying events on the Alpine Ski World Cup calendar. Held under floodlights, it creates an unmatched atmosphere for athletes and fans alike. Debuting in 2023 as a replacement for the canceled Garmisch-Partenkirchen race, the night GS quickly became a season highlight, drawing tens of thousands of spectators to Schladming.
Schladming’s world-class finish stadium, built for the 2013 World Championships, is widely regarded as the best in the sport. The venue offers a thrilling setting for athletes and remains the envy of all other World Cup hosts. Its unique atmosphere and roaring crowds provide the perfect stage for this extraordinary event.
Schladming’s “Nightrace” tradition in slalom—first held in 1997—has an established reputation as one of the most exciting stops on the circuit. On Jan. 28, the only night GS on the World Cup calendar promises thrilling performances as athletes race to secure Saalbach World Championship spots.
Last Schladming GS Performances
The 2024 Schladming Night Giant Slalom provided thrilling action, with Swiss superstar Marco Odermatt claiming victory, continuing his dominant season. His win extended his streak to every GS last season except the finals in Saalbach. Austrian Manuel Feller delighted the home crowd with a second-place finish, while Croatia’s Žan Kranjec rounded out the podium in third.
North Americans scored modest results last season, with River Radamus finishing 23rd, Tommy Ford placing 26th, and Canadian Erik Read coming in 28th. With Ford out for the season, Radamus and Read will aim to improve their performances on the Planai slope in this year’s race.
Season GS Podium Recap
The first five GS races of the season have delivered intense competition and shifting dynamics. The Schladming Night Giant Slalom marks the sixth of nine GS races calendared this season and is the final GS competition before the World Championships, making it a pivotal race for athletes aiming to gain momentum or secure team selection.
- Sölden, Austria: Norway swept the podium with Alexander Steen Olsen taking 1st, Henrik Kristoffersen in 2nd, and Atle Lie McGrath in 3rd.
- Beaver Creek, USA: Switzerland’s Thomas Tumler claimed his first World Cup win, followed by Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen in 2nd and Slovenia’s Žan Kranjec in 3rd.
- Val d’Isère, France: Marco Odermatt dominated, with Austria’s Patrick Feurstein in 2nd and Stefan Brennsteiner in 3rd.
- Alta Badia, Italy: Odermatt continued his streak, with France’s Léo Anguenot finishing 2nd and Steen Olsen claiming 3rd.
- Adelboden, Switzerland: Odermatt secured another commanding victory, leading a Swiss 1-2 finish with Loïc Meillard in 2nd and Italy’s Luca De Aliprandini rounding out the podium in 3rd.
With Schladming as the only GS under the lights, this race provides a unique and critical opportunity for athletes before the season’s biggest stage in the Saalbach World Championships.
Marco Odermatt’s Continued Dominance
Odermatt, widely regarded as the most dominant skier of his generation, has reaffirmed his status with commanding GS victories in Val d’Isère, Alta Badia, and Adelboden this season. After a rare string of three DNFs in GS, Odermatt has shown remarkable resilience, bouncing back with decisive wins under challenging conditions.
Odermatt returns to Schladming as the defending champion, having triumphed on the Planai slope last season. With three consecutive GS wins this season, he leads the overall, downhill, super-G and GS standings by significant margins. Schladming provides the perfect stage for Odermatt to extend his streak and solidify his march toward another record-breaking season.
Who to Watch for the Podium
Odermatt leads the GS standings with 300 points after winning the last three races. The Swiss star holds a commanding 101-point lead over Henrik Kristoffersen, who sits second with 199 points. Odermatt is the clear favorite on the Planai, where he won last year.
Alexander Steen Olsen, third with 189 points, remains a podium threat despite battling knee pain that has limited his training. Žan Kranjec, fourth with 186 points, has shown consistency, while Luca De Aliprandini (fifth) and Thomas Tumler (sixth) will also contend.
Atle Lie McGrath (eighth) and Patrick Feurstein (11th) bring depth to the field, while Radamus, ranked 13th, leads the North Americans and will aim to improve on last year’s 23rd-place finish in Schladming.
Current Top 15 Men’s 2024-25 GS World Cup Standings
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Top 15 Men’s 2024-25 GS World Cup Standings
The 2024-25 GS standings highlight the global competitiveness of giant slalom racing. Nine nations are represented in the top 15, with Norway leading the way with four athletes (Henrik Kristoffersen, Alexander Steen Olsen, Atle Lie McGrath, and Timon Haugan). Switzerland follows with three skiers (Marco Odermatt, Loïc Meillard, and Thomas Tumler), including Odermatt, who leads with 300 points after three consecutive wins.
Austria has three representatives (Patrick Feurstein, Stefan Brennsteiner, and Manuel Feller), while Slovenia (Žan Kranjec), Italy (Luca De Aliprandini), and Croatia (Filip Zubčić) maintain strong top-10 positions. Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, France’s Léo Anguenot, and the Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s River Radamus round out the top 15.
Seventy-one men from 23 countries are set to compete in the Men’s World Cup Giant Slalom in Schladming on Jan. 28.
A. Gelbov (NOR) set the first run, and M. Sprenger (FRA) will set the second run.
Radamus Leads the U.S. Charge
River Radamus is the only active U.S. skier with World Cup GS points this season. The Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete is ranked 13th in the GS standings with 116 points. Radamus has delivered steady performances, finishing 11th in Sölden, 7th in Beaver Creek, 17th in Val d’Isère, 15th in Alta Badia, and 10th in Adelboden. While his result in Schladming last season wasn’t among his best, he’ll aim to improve and further solidify his status as the top U.S. giant slalom skier.
Other U.S. Skiers Seek Breakthroughs
With Tommy Ford sidelined for the season, Radamus shoulders the responsibility of representing U.S. GS skiers at the highest level. Patrick Kenney, an independent athlete with Global Racing, scored his first World Cup points this season by finishing 23rd in Adelboden and is working to build on that result.
For Bridger Gile, Isaiah Nelson, and Cooper Puckett, a top-30 finish in Schladming is vital. None of the three has scored World Cup points yet, and this race is a key opportunity to boost their chances of being considered for the World Championships in Saalbach. The Schladming Night Giant Slalom provides a unique stage for these athletes to prove themselves.
2024-25 North American Men’s World Cup GS Rankings
Canada’s Representation in Schladming
Veteran Erik Read is Canada’s sole entry in the Schladming Night Giant Slalom. The independent skier, training with the World Racing Academy, scored his first GS points of the season with a 20th-place finish in Alta Badia. Read also has experience on the Planai slope, having scored in last season’s Schladming GS with a 28th-place finish. As Canada’s only representative, he will aim to build on that momentum and deliver a strong result under the lights.
Schladming Night Giant Slalom: A Spectacle Under the Lights
The Schladming Night Giant Slalom on the Planai slope is one of the most electrifying events on the Alpine Ski World Cup calendar. Held under floodlights, it creates an unparalleled atmosphere for athletes and fans. Since debuting in 2023, the night GS has become a must-watch event, attracting tens of thousands of spectators to Schladming each year.
Built for the 2013 World Championships, Schladming’s world-class finish stadium sets it apart. Widely regarded as the best in the sport, the Planai finish arena creates an electric energy that fuels athletes and captivates fans.
Known for its long-standing “Nightrace” tradition in slalom—first organized in 1997—Schladming has become a staple of the World Cup calendar. On Jan. 28, the night GS will be an extraordinary spectacle and serve as a key test for athletes vying for Saalbach World Championship spots.
North American men racing GS
- Bib 8, River Radamus, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, SYNC Shields
- Bib 41, Patrick Kenney, USA, Global Racing, University of New Hampshire, Burke Moutain Academy, Marker/Völkl, SYNC, SHRED
- Bib 46, Isaiah Nelson, Stifel USST, Buck Hill Ski Team, SHRED
- Bib 56, Bridger Gile, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, HEAD, Oakley, SYNC Shields
- Bib 58, William ST-Germain, Global Racing, Le club de ski du Mont Sainte-Anne, University of Vermont, SYNC, SHRED
- Bib 59, Cooper Puckett, World Cup Rookie, Stifel USST, Dartmouth College, SSWSC, Marker/Dalbello/Völkl, SHRED
- Bib 63, Erik Read, CAN World Racing Academy, Banff Alpine Racers, University of Denver, Atomic
How and When to Watch
The first run starts at 11:45 a.m. Eastern and 8:45 a.m. Pacific Time, followed by the second run at 2:45 p.m. Eastern and 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time.
U.S. audiences can catch the Kitzbühel slalom live or replay it on Peacock.
Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.
Daily Program and First Run Start List
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First Run Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
