Linus Straßer: Slalom carries its own weight

With Linus Straßer, it is worth following a slalom through to the second run. The Munich-born skier has won at the Ganslern and on the Planai. Races like these suit a profile that takes the specialist seriously: short sequences of turns, tight gates and a competition whose outcome remains open after the first run. If you mainly watch downhill, Straßer offers you a different way into alpine winter sport.

He is part of the German national team for 2026/27. His overall World Cup ranking of 31 from the previous season, however, explains only part of his importance. For this slalom specialist, the discipline and the major individual races are more significant. That is exactly where this profile begins.

Straßer was born in Munich and competes for TSV 1860 München. As a child, he was initially a member of the Kitzbüheler Ski-Club. This gives Kitzbühel a place in his sporting biography that began long before his well-known World Cup win. Munich nevertheless remains his place of origin. A race course does not replace an indication of where someone is from.

He made his World Cup debut in the giant slalom in Sölden in 2013. His first World Cup win came in 2017 in the parallel event in Stockholm. In this format, competitors race on courses next to each other. The distinction matters for today's record: five wins in total do not mean five wins in classic slalom.

You do not have to read his career as a straight rise. A specialist can define a major race evening while attracting less attention in the overall standings. With Straßer, the individual slalom and the season record sit side by side. Both perspectives matter if you want to assess his role in the German team.

In 2024, Straßer first won the slalom in Kitzbühel and then the Nightrace in Schladming. These venues are more than well-known names on a winners' list. The Ganslern and the Planai finish slope offer different types of terrain and viewing perspectives. For your visit, you can turn them into two separate trips instead of mentally treating both races as one.

A year later, he added World Championship bronze in the slalom in Saalbach. Team bronze at the 2021 World Championships and team silver at the 2022 Olympics complete his individual record. The different medals each belong to their respective formats. A team success is not counted here as an individual medal.

At the end of 2025/26, he was 11th in the slalom World Cup. That is the straightforward latest season position. The successes of 2024 explain his profile, but do not replace a look at the previous season. No fixed placing for 2026/27 can be derived from this. It remains interesting to see how Straßer approaches the challenge on these familiar slopes.

If you want to choose one race, the slalom in Kitzbühel is an obvious starting point. The race weekend is scheduled for 22 to 24 January 2027. Pay close attention to the programme and choose the slalom day. The Streif downhill and the Ganslern are different races, even though both are held under the Hahnenkamm name.

The organiser's Ganslern profile shows the slalom course with its changes in terrain. When watching, it is worth paying attention to the transition from the steeper section into the next part. This is our viewing recommendation, not a statement about Straßer's planned line.

In Schladming, the organiser confirms the giant slalom on 26 January and the slalom on 27 January 2027. For Straßer's core discipline, the second evening is the relevant one. Both dates were checked on 22 October 2026. This does not constitute personal confirmation that he will start; the respective team selections will be announced separately.

Another highlight is the World Championship slalom in Crans-Montana. According to the organiser, the World Championships will take place from 1 to 14 February 2027. Straßer's bronze in 2025 gives this competition a sporting connection. Taking part again would depend on his nomination by Germany. Date status: 22 October 2026

For a first visit, we recommend a designated spectator area at the slalom finish. From there, you can follow the order of the finishers together with their times. A position higher up the slope brings you closer to particular turns. In return, you see only one section of the complete run.

In Schladming, the organiser provides a stadium map and different ticket areas. Choose your spot using this overview. A favourable name or proximity to the valley station alone says little about which gates you will see.

The railway station is in the town. For the journey to the Planai, and especially for the return journey after the second run, plan the evening as a separate event visit. A ski bus that works during the day is not yet proof of a route home after the race. Check the current connection and allow extra time to leave the stadium.

His home city of Munich and his Kitzbühel club connection remain clearly distinct.

Compare accommodation based on the actual routes to the cable car and spectator access. If the slalom evening determines your stay, the return journey after the race deserves particular attention. Plan a separate ski day before or afterwards. That leaves you free to focus on the question that is genuinely interesting on the slope: how does your impression of a run change when you see the same section again with the next skier?