Tech athletes to watch at World Cup Finals
The 2017 World Cup Finals competition kicked off in Aspen, Colo. on Wednesday with the men’s and women’s downhill, and small globes have been locked up in the speed disciplines. Oakley athlete Tina Weirather from Liechtenstein secured the super-G title on Thursday. In this end-of-season race series, only the top athletes on the World Cup circuit get to start, meaning they represent the best of the best. Of those athletes, who should you keep an eye on in slalom and giant slalom?
Nina Loeseth (NOR)
Age: 28 | Racing in slalom and giant slalom
Attacking Viking Nina Loeseth comes from a family of elite ski racers with two sisters who formerly competed on the World Cup. Following up her best season on the World Cup circuit, 2017 has proved to be another strong showing for Loeseth. Just this season, she has earned three podiums and is currently sitting in fifth in the World Cup slalom rankings and 11th in the overall standings. Loeseth has 125 World Cup starts and seven career World Cup podiums.
Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR)
Age: 22 | Racing in slalom and giant slalom
Known as “Wild Child” when he was growing up, Henrik Kristoffersen became the youngest male medalist in Olympic alpine skiing history at age 19 in Sochi, Russia. Though only 22, he has equaled a record held by the legendary Alberto Tomba, winning six slalom races in a single season. Kristoffersen is the winningest male Norwegian slalom skier ever, and was the 2016 World Cup slalom champion.
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)
Age: 22 | Racing in slalom and giant slalom
Expectations for Mikaela Shiffrin have been high since long before she became the youngest slalom gold medalist in Olympic history. The American is having her most successful season to date, having locked up her fourth World Cup slalom title in Squaw Valley and being on the verge of her first big crystal globe for the World Cup overall title. This season, the slalom superstar has branched out into the speed events, even winning an alpine combined race and earning World Cup points in downhill. Coming into World Cup Finals, she has 1523 points in the overall rankings, leading by 198 points.