Tech athletes to watch at World Cup Finals

By Published On: March 17th, 2017Comments Off on 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
SANKT MORITZ,SWITZERLAND,18.FEB.17 - ALPINE SKIING - FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, slalom, ladies. Image shows Nina Loeseth (NOR). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Andreas PranterAttacking 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
SQUAW VALLEY,CALIFORNIA,USA,11.MAR.17 - ALPINE SKIING - FIS World Cup, slalom, ladies. Image shows Mikaela Shiffrin (USA). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Daniel GoetzhaberExpectations 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.

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About the Author: Gabbi Hall

A California native, Gabbi moved to Vermont to ski on the NCAA circuit for St. Michael’s College, where she served as team captain and studied journalism. Before joining Ski Racing, she worked as a broadcast TV producer and social media manager in higher education. She can be reached via email at gabbi@skiracing.com