This weekend, female alpine speed specialists met in Austria, in St. Anton, and challenged the Karl Schranz slope. Male alpine technical specialists arrived in Adelboden to conquer the Chuenisbärgli, an iconic, demanding, and frighteningly steep slope in Switzerland. All races brought thrilling competition and emotional breakthroughs.
St. Anton Speed Races
St. Anton, an Austrian venue, hosted downhill on Saturday and super-G on Sunday. The Saturday downhill race was among the season’s most nerve-wracking women’s events.
The Downhill
The downhill course was very technical; at two points, no racer could remain within the course without losing considerable speed, and at one point of the track, athletes hit a deep rut right within the ideal racing line. No serious injury happened during the run, but we have seen many ladies skiing out, missing gates, and even some terrifying crashes, including the great Sofia Goggia (ITA).
The downhill course suited the technically gifted ladies, as the results confirmed. Federica Brignone (ITA), who is in fantastic form, won gold, and Ester Ledecka (CZE), a very special lady who races on snowboard and skis, would have been second. But then came Malorie Blanc, with bib 46, a 21-year-old from Switzerland, in her only second World Cup race. Malorie nailed her run and pushed Ledecka to the third position, gaining second place for her country.
The Super-G
The super-G on Sunday was an American celebration. It could have been an Austrian day, as Stephanie Venier (AUT) brought hope into the spectators’ hearts. But then, an American miracle, Lauren Macuga (USA), pushed Venier to second place and came for her first-ever World Cup win. In her third race after the controversial comeback, Lindsey Vonn missed the podium only by 0,28 seconds, letting Federica Brignone go home with bronze.
Malorie Blanc did not spoil the party this time but managed another top-10 finish in her only third World Cup start (ranking ninth). Great things are to be expected from this one.
The Witch’s Cauldron in Adelboden
The organizers and FIS switched the schedule to fit the weather forecast. It was the right decision because Saturday’s mist and snowing would not allow the giant slalom event to go as planned.
The Slalom
So, on Saturday, the slalom aces challenged the Chuenisbärgli, surrounded by roaring fans. Once again, we have seen many DNFs, as the course was very challenging. In the first run, some great names failed to finish the race, including Atle Lie McGrath (NOR), Samuel Kolega (CRO), or, to the home crowd’s disappointment, Loic Meillard (SUI).
The second run was marked by terrible visibility; at points, racers could barely see from gate to gate, and avoiding the ruts was becoming nearly impossible. In this white hell, some flourished like Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), whose killer second run brought him just another bronze, and a red bib. Then Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) retrieved his exclusive form and finished second. When Manuel Feller (AUT) failed to deliver on the promise his lead from the first run brought and earned just another DNF, Clement Noel (FRA) silenced all doubts about his injured ankle and returned where he rightfully belonged, to the top spot.
The Giant Slalom
The event in Adelboden is one of the highlights of the giant slalom season. The atmosphere in the “cauldron” is electric, and the tickets are sold out months before the event. Marco Odermatt arrived as a clear favorite. He was reaching for his fourth victory in a row on the home soil, and after a few stumbles at the beginning of the season, his form was once again where it used to be, gathering gold after gold.
However, Odermatt’s skiing is neither as smooth and precise nor as reckless and crazy as the fans were used to seeing him. He seems to have lost some drive on his way to becoming a legend at such a young age. But Adelboden is his special venue; everybody expected him to give it his all here.
In the first run, that was not the case. Odermatt was a little too scrappy and not as clean. He finished third, and it looked like this year, the story would not be about him but rather about his teammate Lois Meillard.
Both runs were set very straight and fast; once again, we have seen many DNFs. The first run brought the end to 21 racers, including Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) or Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT), and the second run ended the hopes of 5 racers, including Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), Atle Lie McGrath (NOR), Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR) or Tommy Ford (USA) who was reaching for his season’s best.
But the second run was a highlight for the career of Luca De Aliprandini (ITA). He performed a crazy, inhumanly perfect run, in line with his exciting skiing style, and sat in the red chair before Odermatt deposed him. And as Loic Meillard failed to beat his teammate, De Aliprandini celebrated, while Odermatt felt visibly sorry for once again beating his friend, who had to be happy with the second place.
So, Adelboden brought the desired outcome. One classical race over; let us look for another one.
