And some turns they were!
The giant slalom course in the finals had everything, terrain changes, rollers, and challenging course sets. The weather in Sun Valley pushed the organizers to the extremes. It was freezing when the speed aces arrived, and the snow was melting under direct sunshine in the last races.
What Was At Stake
The first spot in the giant slalom and overall rankings was again taken. After the less-than-satisfactory start of his giant slalom season and despite obvious difficulties with switching the speed and giant slalom setup, Marco Odermatt (SUI) secured the Crystal Globe last week in a battle with Henrik Kristoffersen.
But the giant slalom podium was not decided at all. Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) remained second with only a 38-point gap on Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR) and a 60-point gap on Loic Meillard (SUI). However, if the two best failed to rank (not unthinkable in these conditions), others would fight for their place on the podium, like Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA), with only a 55-point gap on Olsen, or Thomas Tumler (SUI), with a 56-point gap on Meillard.
Marco could sit and watch while the wolves chasing him all season fight for the podium. But fans still hoped to see him charge on the tricky course.
Furthermore, Kristoffersen and Meillard would fight it out for the spot on the overall podium. That was perhaps on Franjo Von Allmen’s mind as he decided to try a giant slalom.
He was not the only one, as the rules allow all racers with more than 500 points to start in any discipline they wish. Thus, Alexis Monney also decided to try giant slalom, and so did Stefan Rogentin. It looked like the Swiss speed crew did not want to start celebrating without their team leader, so they joined Marco Odermatt in the race to drink the season away together.
Anyway, in conditions like this, that decision spiced up the spectacle.
The Challenges of the First Run
The first run was very turny, and most racers are not used to this. Nowadays, giant slalom courses tend to be straighter and faster, suiting fast guys like Odermatt or Raphael Haaser. Yet, the Croatian coach decided to test the racers’ ability to turn those long boards. Some visibly struggled to even fit in between the gates.
Among them was Marco Odermatt, the king of giant slalom, who was far from happy with the course set. Well, he used to be able to handle anything the course setters threw at him. However, lately, as he focuses more and more on the speed events, he must try harder to keep up in the turny discipline.
Yet, he still managed sixth in the first run. The course was deteriorating rapidly, and this unconventional course setting made the most experienced racers look like amateurs. Alexander Steen Olsen lost his chance for a giant slalom overall podium as he fell out, and Thomas Tumler was obviously unhappy with the turny course. The speed aces from Switzerland had fun trying, but Von Allmen did not stay in the course and Rogentine with Monney would start from the last place in the second run.
Loic Meillard (SUI), Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA), and Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), on the other hand, used their technical skills to create the top three.
The Second Run Under the Shining Sun
As expected, even with the omnipresent salt, the track surface turned into white mud as time progressed. Marco Schwarz (AUT) took advantage of his low start number and remained in the red chair for a long time. Until Marco Odermatt showed everybody he was far from being beaten in the giant slalom. His run had everything: courage, precision, light touch, and above all, speed. This was the best of the giant slalom runs we have seen from him during the season.
Neither Braathen nor Kristoffersen could match it, even though Kristoffersen got onto the podium. But Loic Meillard is in a league of his own at the end of this season. He made it look so easy, a miraculous task considering the conditions. He was the fastest in the second run, 0.03 seconds faster than Odermatt. We certainly look forward to their battles next year.
So, the giant slalom season is closed. Marco Odermatt got his globe, and Henrik Kristoffersen finished second. Third place belongs by every right to Loic Meillard, who had a brilliant end of the season following the World Champs.
Let’s watch the last race and then party the season away.
