Top Contenders, North Americans to Watch, and Viewing Guide

Felix Neureuther 2017 Levi winner: GEPA pictures

Levi Men’s World Cup Slalom: Who’s Racing, When, and How to Watch

Levi Kicks Off the Men’s Slalom Season

The 2024-25 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men’s Slalom season begins in Levi, Finland, on Sunday, November 17. Situated 170 kilometers above the Arctic Circle, Levi traditionally hosts the Women’s Slalom opener, but the men return to the Levi Black race arena this year. With fewer than five hours of daylight, powerful lights illuminate the hill, adding to the dramatic scene. In a unique and charming tradition, the winner takes the podium with Santa Claus and receives the coveted reindeer prize, making this season’s slalom opener one of the most memorable stops on the circuit.

Henrik Kristoffersen, a two-time Levi winner, returns as a strong contender alongside Clément Noël and Daniel Yule, the 2019 podium finishers. Adding to the excitement, Marcel Hirscher, another two-time winner in Levi, will compete using a wild card. After five seasons away, he now races for the Netherlands, making his slalom return highly anticipated.

2023-24 Contenders Ready to Battle in Levi

The World Cup men’s slalom season starts with an electric showdown on Levi’s slopes. Austria’s reigning World Cup slalom champion, Manuel Feller, is back to defend his title. Germany’s Linus Strasser, last season’s runner-up, brings momentum from his victories in Kitzbühel and Schladming, while Norway’s Timon Haugan, who took third in the overall standings and clinched the final slalom of last season in Saalbach, adds further competition to the field.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the 2022-23 slalom champion, re-enters the circuit under Brazil’s flag. He made a bold impression in Sölden, charging from bib 41 to finish 4th in giant slalom. Now, Braathen aims to make his mark in Levi. The season opener sets up a thrilling showdown under Levi’s iconic lights. In Levi, he will start 33rd.

Six Different 2023-24 Season Winners Highlight the Depth of Competition

The 2023-24 Men’s World Cup Slalom season showcased a fiercely competitive field, with six different athletes winning races—a testament to the intense competition in men’s slalom.

Manuel Feller (Austria): 4 wins
Linus Strasser (Germany): 2 wins
Marco Schwarz (Austria): 1 win (recovering from an injury in December 2023)
Daniel Yule (Switzerland): 1 win
Loic Meillard (Switzerland): 1 win
Timon Haugan (Norway): 1 win

These results illustrate the fierce battle for podium spots and signal another exhilarating season ahead.

Top 15 Men’s SL World Cup Start List

Eighty-one men from 25 nations will start the men’s World Cup SL in Levi on Nov. 17, with Austria leading the field with eight qualified athletes on the start list. Eleven countries are represented among the first 30 on the start list, with Switzerland leading the field with six athletes. This strong presence underscores the depth of talent within the Swiss team as they aim for podium finishes this season.

Jai Geyer (GBR) will set the first run, and Martin Kroisleitner (AUT) will set the second run.

North American Skiers on the World Cup Slalom Start List

Four North American skiers who scored World Cup Slalom points last season are ready for Levi’s 2024-25 opener. Three represent the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, while Canadian Erik Read competes independently, bringing experience and determination.

Jett Seymour led the U.S. skiers in slalom points last season, finishing a season-best 15th in Palisades Tahoe. He ended the season ranked 39th and is now 40th on the World Cup Start List (WCSL). His FIS rank of 32nd secures him a preferred start position of 34th in Levi, setting him up for a strong showing.

Training independently with the World Racing Academy in Italy, Canadian skier Erik Read rounds out the 2023-24 North American slalom points scorers. Read’s FIS rank of 49th allows him to start 46th, just ahead of Ritchie and Radamus. Last season, he scored twice, with a top finish of 20th in Adelboden. His career-best finish of 7th in Kitzbühel shows he has the experience to push for top results.

The 2021 FIS Junior World SL champion Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Ben Ritchie has three scoring finishes from last season, including 20th place in Wengen. He is currently ranked 42nd in the WCSL and will start 48th.

River Radamus (USA), better known for his GS skills, scored once in slalom last season and finished 19th in Adelboden. He is ranked 47th on the WCSL and will start 50th after Ritchie. Rumors suggest he has focused on slalom training and aims for consistent results this season.

North American Men on the World Cup SL Start List

New Face and Fresh Ambitions: Other North American Slalom Contenders Ready for Levi

Three additional North American skiers, aiming to establish themselves on the World Cup stage, will compete in Levi.

Levi presents a pivotal opportunity for Luke Winters of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. Winters, who led U.S. slalom rankings from 2020 to 2023, faced a challenging season last year, including a midseason equipment switch from Dynastar to Fischer. Despite setbacks, he has a strong track record, having qualified for the World Cup Finals in 2022 and earned a career-best finish of 7th in Flachau. With a FIS slalom rank of 120, he will start 72 in Levi, but his familiarity with the course fuels his drive to regain his standing.

Canada’s Simon Fournier, an independent racer training with the World Racing Academy, brings significant experience despite recently missing Sölden due to injury. The 2023-24 NorAm overall and giant slalom champion, he also ranked as the second-highest NorAm slalom skier in North America. Simon, who has competed 22 times in the World Cup, including two appearances in Levi, looks to leverage his experience to post a solid result from a later start position of 57.

Another Stifel U.S. Ski Team member, Cameron Palmquist, will make his World Cup debut in Levi. As last season’s highest-ranked North American slalom skier on the NorAm circuit, Cameron secured his World Cup 2024-25 start spot and has substantial support from his Buck Hill Ski Racing Team and Team Summit communities. Starting from the 69th start position, he’ll launch his season with positive energy from family, friends, and fans.

For these three North American racers, Levi marks more than just a season opener—it’s their chance to establish themselves on the World Cup circuit and set the tone for a successful season.

North American men racing SL in Levi

Bib 34, Jett SeymourStifel USST, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, University of Denver
Bib 46, Erik ReadCAN World Racing Academy, Banff Alpine Racers, University of Denver, Atomic
Bib 48, Benjamin RitchieStifel USST, Green Mountain Valley School, HEAD, SYNC Protection
Bib 50, River Radamus, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, SYNC Protection
Bib 57, Simon FournierMont Tremblant Ski Club, University of Denver, SYNC
Bib 69, Cameron PalmquistStifel USST, Buck Hill, Team Summit, Völkl/Dalbello/Marker, Oakley
Bib 72, Luke WintersStifel USST, Sugar Bowl Ski Academy, SYNC Protection

How and When to Watch

The first run starts at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time and 1:00 a.m. Pacific Time, followed by the second run at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time and 4:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

U.S. audiences can watch the race live or as a replay on Ski And Snowboard Live.