One thing I love about alpine skiing is how often reality can prove us journalists wrong.
In an article on Friday, I wrote about the less successful guys who ski in the middle of the results field and how hard it must be for them. Especially if they, like Dominik Paris, have skied at the very top for some time. I am glad to say that this weekend brought the most coveted prizes for just these athletes.
Technical Weekend in Are
Giant Slalom
Saturday’s giant slalom race brought no surprises, as Federica Brignone (ITA) continues to demolish the competition marvelously. Federica won both runs and clocked the fastest time in both of them.
In the first run, Brignone had a surprising competitor. Sofia Goggia (ITA) has been enjoying giant slalom racing more and more lately, and had this season been just a little longer, she might have gotten her podium. But not this time. Goggia clocked the second fastest time in the first run but skied out in the second.
Thea Loise Stjernesund (NOR) continued to provide solid results, hoping for the podium with her third-fastest time in the first run. But once again, it was only good enough for fourth, as Lara Colturi (ALB) showed her remarkable skills in the second run. Alice Robinson (NEZ) finished second and did what she could to gain a victory. However, Brignone is unbeatable this season.
So, Brignone won, with Robinson second and Colturi third. This result allows Alice Robinson to keep the red bib for a giant slalom tour leader with a 20-point lead on Brignone.
Slalom
It was snowing heavily on Sunday. Mikaela Shiffrin was the fastest in the first run. It is remarkable how Shiffrin does not let her less-than-satisfactory results from giant slalom get into her head. Second place in the slalom belonged to Lena Dürr from Germany, with Katharina Liensberger (AUT) and Melanie Meillard (SUI) trailing behind.
In the second run the surprise came. Katharina Truppe (AUT) is one of those racers who race consistently in the top 30, finishing regularly in the top 10, but rarely getting on the podium. She went down with 5 racers to go and nailed her run in the blizzard. Katharina Liensberger started from the third spot and only managed to place behind her teammate. Now, the time had come for Lena Dürr and Mikaela Shiffrin to deliver on their first-run promises. Dürr failed to do so; Shiffrin tried very hard but only managed to use her massive advantage to place third.
The battle for the small crystal globe goes on to the finals, with Zrinka Ljutic (CRO) still leading with Camille Rast (SUI), Katharina Liensberger (AUT), and even Wendy Holdener (SUI) trailing close behind.
As for the big crystal globe, Federica Brignone seems too far ahead of Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI). But as there are four speed races in front of the ladies, we can look forward to watching them fight for it.
Speed Races in Kvitfjell
Marco Odermatt described the Kvitfjell race course as one of those “easy-hard tracks.” That means the slope is easy to ski but challenging to be fast on. When there are no tricky, adrenaline-packed parts, every mistake counts, and you must be perfect from top to bottom.
On Friday, the perfect guy was Dominik Paris (ITA). And on Sunday again. Yes, I wrote on Friday that Paris has been struggling lately. Maybe he read my article and decided to show me what he could do.
Jokes aside, on Friday, it looked as if Stefan Rogentin (SUI) would gain his first-ever downhill victory. Rogentin used to be one of those decent, solid skiers finishing in the middle, but he rides on the Swiss victorious wave this season. His teammate Odermatt toppled Rogentin from the top spot right after another Swiss, Franjo Von Allmen, was a little too wild this time. But then Dominic Paris decided to outrun the Swiss pack to gain victory.
- Related post: World Cup Preview: The Nordic Skiing Adventure
On Saturday, the Swiss did not let anybody on the podium and got a clean sweep. This time, Franjo Von Allmen was wild just enough for his standards, with Marco Odermatt and Stefan Rogentin trailing behind. These results mean that the battle for the small crystal globe between Odermatt and his younger friend Von Allmen will be decided in the finals, although Odermatt’s 83-point lead should be sufficient to remain on top.
On Sunday, favors seemed to play in Marco Odermatt’s cards. He could ski worry-free with the super-G crystal globe in his pockets. The shortened course meant there was no room to make up for errors, and we know how error-free Odermatt can be in super-G. But maybe it is harder to find motivation in these situations.
- Related post:
James Crawford (CAN) remembered his superb super-G skills; only Dominik Paris was faster. Odermatt held the third position for a long time until Miha Hrobat (SLO) took the third spot from him with bib number 21. Due to the shortened course, the margins between the racers in the top 20 were minimal; thus, many racers gave the podium finishers a fright with their performance.
The men’s overall big globe is practically decided. But next week, the battle for the technical globes continues among men, and women will try to determine their speed discipline champion.
