Winters Scores Again in Zagreb Slalom
Luke Winters led the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team in the Zagreb, Croatia night slalom on Sunday, finishing in 28th place.
Clément Noël of France took his fourth FIS Ski World Cup win and the esteemed Snow Queen Trophy. Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland was second and young Alex Vinatzer of Italy stepped on his first World Cup podium, in third.
Proving that he has a place in the top 30, Luke put down two solid runs in his first attempt on the grippy Zagreb track to add to his collection of World Cup points. “My goal for the season was to just be in the mix—be in the top 30 as much as I can be,” said Luke, who is doing his first full World Cup season. “I’m happy with where I’m at right now. You can’t always be up in the top five.”
Just 22-year-olds, Luke exploded onto the circuit earlier this season when he finished second in the first run of the Val d’Isere slalom and threatened in the Levi slalom, showing that he’s someone to keep an eye on throughout the season and that the American men are in the slalom hunt, putting slalom back on the map in the United States once again.
“I know I have the speed to be up there,” said Luke. “But I know it takes a lot of experience to ski that consistently and that’s what I’m going to keep working on and working towards.”
River Radamus also started the Zagreb slalom but did not finish the first run.
Luke and River also represented the American men today as the ski racing world remembers Bryce Astle and Ronnie Berlack, the two U.S. skiers that passed away in an avalanche in Soelden, Austria on this day five years ago. Both Luke and River had BA+RB scribed on the back of their helmets today.
Next up, the men head to Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, for another night slalom on Wednesday before moving on to Adelboden, Switzerland, for a giant slalom and slalom over the weekend.
RESULTS
Men’s Slalom
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HOW TO WATCH
All Times EST
Monday, Jan. 6
1:00 a.m. - Men’s slalom, Zagreb, CRO - NBCSN**
**Next-day broadcast
Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app
Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow
Teammates Luke Winters and River Radamus smile in the finish after Luke grabbed himself—and American men's slalom—another solid result, in Zagreb, Croatia under the lights.
