SR Staff Report
Wengen 2022 slalom podium: photo credit GEPA
Who is skiing, when and how to watch the Wengen slalom
Wengen is the most complicated men’s World Cup slalom venue in the world. It doesn’t have the biggest crowd, it doesn’t have the most notoriety but it is the most complex hill in the sport. Wengen is to SL, what Adelboden is to GS, Beaver Creek is to super-G and Kitzbühel is to downhill. There is simply nothing like it.
Unfortunately, unless you have the ability to slide down the course on race a day, you can’t possibly understand how wonderfully complex this race hill is. This hill will thoroughly test all the skills of every competitor. When an athlete does well in Wengen, it says something about their ability.
Notably, in certain conditions, this venue offers advantages to the later numbers. When it is truly sheet ice and clear skies, two changes occur that create an opportunity for those skiing well with higher bibs. The first is the ice gains a useful texture as racers take their runs, and the second is the amount of direct sunlight on the slope increases as the day continues. The sun softens the ice and provides desired visibility, very useful through the terrain. Both conditions rarely exist at the same time but it has happened. Last year the bibs on the podium were 15, 31, and 19.
Slalom fans likely remember the drama of last season’s race. Bib 31, Lucas Braathen barely qualified for the final run in 29th place. Consequently, he ran 2nd in the final and won the race by twenty-two hundredths—one of the most dramatic races in history. Braathen was in the leader’s chair for 28 racers. Few realized we were watching one the best slalom skier in history. Not the most consistent yet and not the most successful, but truly amazing.
It should be acknowledged that the equipment continues to improve, and it is impossible to compare eras but when Braathen is on his slalom game, it appears unbeatable. Hopefully, we will be treated to his best tomorrow. If he is not his best, he will not win and there are certainly plenty of racers capable of earning the victory. However, all fans will hope for their favorite and wish for another compelling story to unfold on the slope.
After Adelboden, North America has three male slalom skiers who have scored World Cup points this season. The latest one to join the elite list is USA’s, Benjamin Ritchie. Ritchie is a two-time Junior World medalist and was champion in 2021. He joins Luke Winters and Erik Read as North Americans with World Cup SL results. Alpine Canada Alpin and the Stifel US Alpine Team have both entered three athletes in tomorrow’s slalom.
North Americans entered to race the January 14th Wengen slalom
- Bib 27, Luke Winters, USST, Sugar Bowl Ski Academy, Dynastar, Lange, LOOK, SWIX, ASP
- Bib 30, Erik Read, ACA, Banff Alpine Racers, University of Denver, Atomic, UVEX
- Bib 42, Benjamin Ritchie, USST, GMVS, Dynastar, Lange, LOOK, ASP
- Bib 54, Liam Wallace, ACA, Sunshine Alpine Racers, Rossignol/LOOK
- Bib 57, Asher Jordan, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Atomic
- Bib 61, Jett Seymour, USST, SSWSC, University of Denver, Fischer
The first run of the Wengen slalom begins at 4:15 am Eastern time and 1:15 am on the West Coast. The second run is scheduled to air at 7:15 am Eastern time and 4:15 am on the West Coast.
In the United States, Ski and Snowboard Live offers live and full replay with English-speaking announcers.
In Canada, World Cup can be viewed on CBC sports
The First run start list for the January 14th Wengen World Cup SL


Program for Sunday, January 15th, Wengen SL
