Nolan Sweeney’s World Cup debut in Alta Badia marked a milestone shaped by patience, perspective, and belief. From New Hampshire roots to racing the iconic Gran Risa, the experience reaffirmed that he belongs at the sport’s highest level.
Atle Lie McGrath pushed the second run to the limit to win a wildly dramatic Alta Badia slalom on Gran Risa, where eight lead changes reshaped the race and Clément Noël settled for second.
Clément Noël leads a compressed men’s World Cup slalom field after the first run in Alta Badia, with the top 30 separated by just 1.77 seconds. Thirteen skiers remain within a second of the lead, setting up a dramatic second run on Gran Risa before the Christmas break.
Norway’s Timon Haugan delivered a dominant performance to win the 2024 Alta Badia World Cup Slalom, marking the second slalom victory of his career. Haugan’s clean and attacking skiing secured a commanding margin over Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard, who surged six spots with the second-fastest run of the day, and teammate Atle Lie McGrath, who claimed his third podium of the season. Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Jett Seymour also impressed, finishing 13th to cap off a thrilling day on the Gran Risa course.
The Alta Badia slalom delivered thrilling action as Clément Noël returned from injury to claim third after the first run, with Norwegians Timon Haugan and Atle Lie McGrath leading the charge. Amid icy conditions that favored precision, eight racers with bibs above 30, including Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Jett Seymour and River Radamus, qualified for the afternoon finale. Seymour’s 13th-place finish and Radamus’s 25th marked the first time this season that two North Americans advanced to a World Cup slalom second run, highlighting a day of opportunity and progress on the challenging Gran Risa course.
The iconic Gran Risa in Alta Badia, Italy, hosts the next Men’s World Cup Giant Slalom on Sunday, Dec. 22. Marco Odermatt, fresh off his Val d’Isère victory, returns to a venue where he has won four times. Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen leads the GS standings, with teammates Alexander Steen Olsen and Atle Lie McGrath looking to challenge. The U.S. squad, led by River Radamus, will aim to break into the top ranks. Fans can catch the action live at 4:00 a.m. ET on Ski And Snowboard Live.
Get set for tomorrow's Alta Badia GS after today's heart-pounding race, where Marco Odermatt clinched his thrilling 16th World Cup GS victory. The Gran Risa slope witnessed Odermatt's dominance again, with Filip Zubcic providing a fierce challenge.
The Austrian outpaced the American by 1.45 seconds in the fourth giant slalom of the season.
A tricky hill in Alta Badia challenged even the best giant slalom racers in the world.
Ski Racing Media is the leading international media company in alpine skiing, providing industry expertise, storytelling, and education.
Contact us: info@skiracing.com
©2026 | Ski Racing Media
