10 Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team Athletes to Compete at World Cup Finals
Ten Stifel U.S. Ski Team alpine athletes are slated to race at the World Cup finals in Saalbach, Austria March 16-24. Racers who finish the regular World Cup season within the top 25 rank of any discipline are eligible to race. Competitors who have achieved at least 500 World Cup points during the current season are also eligible to race. For the first time, the races will fall over two weekends with one tech and one speed weekend. This is also when the FIS Crystal Globes are awarded to the winners of the overall, slalom, giant slalom, super-G and downhill disciplines.
“We are so proud of what the alpine team has accomplished this year,” said Anouk Patty, Chief of Sport with U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Mikaela’s astonishing strength, ability and comeback coupled with the career best seasons for River Radamus, AJ Hurt, Bryce Bennett, Lauren Macuga and more is a huge testament to the work our athletes and staff have put in. We know they will end the season with a bang in Saalbach.”
Mikaela Shiffrin is set to officially receive the slalom Crystal Globe this season—her 16th career globe and record-equalling eighth slalom globe. Shiffrin won six World Cup slalom races this season and has 96 World Cup victories heading into finals. Before an injury sustained in a downhill crash at Cortina d'Ampezzo sidelined Shiffrin for six weeks, she also won a downhill race and a giant slalom race. Shiffrin qualified to compete in the giant slalom and downhill at finals as well.
Paula Moltzan and AJ Hurt have had exceptional seasons, with Moltzan landing her third career podium and second podium in slalom. Hurt had a breakout season with podiums in both giant slalom and slalom. Both skiers have been a solid force on the women’s tour in the technical disciplines. Moltzan will compete in both the giant slalom and slalom, and Hurt will compete in the giant slalom.
In women’s speed, Jacqueline Wiles will compete in the downhill after securing a career-best second-place finish in Cortina d'Ampezzo—her first podium in six years following a string of injuries. Lauren Macuga has also had a breakout World Cup season with several career best finishes, including her most recent fifth place in the Kvitfjell, Norway super-G. She will start in the super-G at finals.
The men’s team has had a very successful speed season with two men going into the finals downhill event. Bryce Bennett has had a career best season, poised to finish the downhill rankings in fifth, his best ranking to date. Olympic medalist Cochran-Siegle has also shown impeccable consistency in the top 10 numerous times in both super-G and downhill. Jared Goldberg showed strong results in the super-G discipline. Bennett will compete in the downhill, Cochran-Siegle in the downhill and super-G and Goldberg in the super-G.
In the men’s tech field, River Radamus will compete in the giant slalom. Radamus has had his best season ever, highlighted by his first podium at the Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup. Plus, Ryder Sarchett will compete in the giant slalom race after winning gold at Junior Worlds this season. International Ski Federation (FIS) rules allow athletes who win a discipline at Junior Worlds to be eligible to race finals in that event. This will be his inaugural World Cup start.
All of the races will be streamed live and available on demand on Peacock.
WOMEN
AJ Hurt (giant slalom)
Lauren Macuga (super-G)
Paula Moltzan (slalom, giant slalom)
Mikaela Shiffrin (slalom, TBD)
Jacqueline Wiles (downhill)
MEN
Bryce Bennett (downhill)
Ryan Cochran-Siegle (super-G, downhill)
Jared Goldberg (super-G)
River Radamus (giant slalom)
Ryder Sarchett* (giant slalom)
*qualified through a World Juniors victory
HOW TO WATCH
March 16
3:00 a.m. - men’s giant slalom, run 1 - Peacock
4:30 a.m. - women’s slalom, run 1 - Peacock
6:00 a.m. - men’s giant slalom, run 2 - Peacock
7:30 a.m. - women’s slalom, run 2 - Peacock
March 17
3:00 a.m. - women’s giant slalom, run 1 - Peacock
4:30 a.m. - men’s slalom, run 1 - Peacock
6:00 a.m. - women’s giant slalom, run 2 - Peacock
7:30 a.m. - women’s slalom, run 2 - Peacock
March 22
5:00 a.m. - women’s super-G - Peacock
6:30 a.m. - men’s super-G - Peacock
March 23
5:15 a.m. - women’s downhill - Peacock
March 24
5:15 a.m. - men’s downhill - Peacock
