World Cup Finals preview: What’s the secret behind River Radamus’ best season ever?
The Edwards skier stepped on his first World Cup podium in February and enters Saturday's World Cup Finals ranked ninth in the GS standings
Robert F. Bukaty/AP photo
The ‘new’ River Radamus 鈥� the one that climbs onto podiums and scores slalom points from bib 70 鈥� isn’t really new at all.
Sure, the 26-year-old’s sixth World Cup season has been the best one yet, hands down. But the Edwards skier himself said his skiing “hasn’t necessarily changed” this year.
“It’s just continued to progress,” he said from Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, the site of the World Cup Finals from March 16-24.
Radamus enters Saturday’s giant slalom ranked ninth in the event’s season standings and 28th in the overall crystal globe rankings. The hip-dragging hero’s breakout season 鈥� highlighted by a first-career podium in Palisades last month 鈥� has been about staying true to his modus operandi: focus on the preparation and live with the result.
“I think it’s just been another step in the process of honing my craft,” Radamus said. “And you know, something I felt was possible over the past couple years, but finally, it’s just fell into place.”
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Radamus did say he’s stronger 鈥� mentally and physically. Competing across more disciplines this season has helped to “hone” his “race mindset.” He’s taken a little something from each race and carried it into the next one, he said.
Such was the case in Adelboden, where he placed fourth in the GS on Jan. 6. He parlayed that confidence into a 19th-place slalom finish the next day, rocketing out of bib 70 no less.
“That’s been another dream of mine,” he said of scoring points in the tech event. “(It was) pretty rewarding for the work that I’ve put in in my slalom skiing.”
While his initially successful Swiss swing was marred by four-straight DNFs in Wengen and Kitzbuehel, Radamus finished 17th and eighth (a career-best super-G result) in a pair of super-Gs in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to end the month. February was highlighted by another top-15 GS in Bansko before his big coming out party on Feb. 24 in California.
In front jubilant American crowd that included his mom and girlfriend, Radamus finished behind Marco Odermatt and Henrik Kristoffersen 鈥� but no one else.
“To be able to finally step on the pine and realize that dream was really cool and to be able to do that in the U.S. in front of a massive crowd in Palisades was all the more special,” he said.
“Those are the sort of moments you work your whole career for.”
On the state of the U.S. men’s Alpine ski team
“I think we’ve been evolving as a team over the last couple years, progressing towards being able to have strong results across the board,” Radamus said, adding that the speed team has shown depth and the tech side is “on the verge of the same.” He pointed to World Junior champion Ryder Sarchett, Patrick Kenney and Isaiah Nelson as examples.
“All those guys have been as fast or faster than me in training at different times this season,” he said.
On Marco Odermatt’s dominance
“He’s had an incredible season,” Radamus said of the Swiss star, who has won every single GS this season.聽
“Especially when he’s closing in on that perfect season, I think everybody else in the start gate really wants to ruin his day. So, that’s going to be exciting to see go down tomorrow and hopefully I can have a part in pushing him to his limit.”
On his pre and post-race fuel
“We’re constantly traveling and at the mercy of the places that we go,” said Radamus. “You try to make the most of what you got 鈥� get some protein, get some carbs 鈥� but you can’t be to stressed about eating something specific because you can’t control it.”
On how he celebrated his first-career podium
He didn’t get to do much because he raced the next day, but Radamus said celebrating with his mom and girlfriend was special.
“(It) kind of came full circle because those two have done so much for me,” he said.聽
Something no one knows about as it relates to his ski season
“I think the thing that gets lost in all of ski racing is it seems like an individual sport from the outside, but the reality is it’s completely a team sport,” Radamus said. “Especially the American team, where we’re traveling the entire season and away from home. We have to be tight-knit, we have to look out for each other on the road.”
While Radamus’ home-soil heroics certainly inspired future American skiers in attendance, he doesn’t stop there. Radamus launched the Arco Grant, presented in part by World Cup Dreams Foundation in July. In its first season, the grant supported 15 athletes. Radamus said they’ve spent all winter raising money for next season, when he hopes to double the impact.
“I’m trying to constantly see where I can best fill the need for the next generation,” Radamus said.
“It’s been really rewarding to be able to connect with all these athletes and support their journeys and hopefully help them reach their athletic potentials. And it’s given me broader purpose outside my sport to be able to do this.”
Radamus plans to race the U.S. nationals in Sun Valley later this month before finishing the year in Taos at the World Pro Ski Tour Finals. Saturday is his final World Cup race for 2024.
He’d be somewhat satisfied with a top-15, but Radamus 鈥� even the ‘new’ Radamus 鈥� doesn’t race to finish 15th.
“My mindset has been this season that I know I can compete with the best,” he said.
“I’m going to throw down, hopefully score some points, and I know that anything is possible on the upside 鈥� so, leave it all out there for the end of the season.”
