This weekend, the men’s alpine skiers will compete in the French resort Val d’Isere, featuring giant slalom on Saturday and slalom on Sunday. For the giant slalom specialists, this poses a challenge. They finished their races on Sunday evening (European time), had to move to Europe, shake off the jet lag, and get used to the terrain in less than a week. Let us see how they tackle this challenge. The pure technicians, or even Manuel Feller, who chose to skip Beaver Creek and remain in Europe, might have a slight advantage here.
- Related post: Skiing in Val d’Isere, Skiing in Beaver Creek, Men Kick Off the Speed Season in Beaver Creek
The men’s races occur on the iconic Face de Bellevarde, a steep and demanding slope. The course was designed by Swiss Olympic downhill champion Bernhard Russi for the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics. With a gradient at one point of 70%, this course features one of the most demanding giant slaloms on the tour. This weekend, the weather forecast promises freezing conditions with light snow and maybe some clouds limiting visibility. Two things are certain, though. The terrain will be once again icy and hard, making the track faster. And second, the fans will provide an electric atmosphere, as is usual in this luxurious venue every year.
Who to Watch in Giant Slalom
Everybody will watch Marco Odermatt (SUI) and wait for him to finally break the DNF curse and perform in giant slalom like we are used to seeing him. He has much catching up to do after his first run DNF in Sölden and a second run DNF (and a lousy first run by his standards) in Beaver Creek. Odermatt is known for his mental strength, and he holds one super-G victory safely in his pocket, so perhaps we will finally see him ski at his best.
However, the pack of challengers that used to watch him from afar during last season gets hungrier with every race.
First, Zan Kranjec (SLO) had two runs of his life in Beaver Creek. Thomas Tumler (SUI) gained his first World Cup victory in a phenomenal style last week, winning from first place with a nearly unbeatable lead.
- Related post: Beaver Creek: Giant Slalom Upside Down. Brazil on the Podium, and Odermatt with the Second DNF
Then come the Norwegians and the Brazilian. We are still waiting to see what Henrik Kristoffersen can do when he puts two perfect runs together or what Lucas Pinheiro Braathen does with a lower bib number and better snow conditions in the first run. And let us not forget Atle Lie McGrath, who had been chasing his Brazilian friend in Beaver Creek, and Alexander Steen Olsen, who did not fare well in America but won the season opener in Sölden. Filip Zubcic (CRO) and Louic Meillard (SUI) also showed great form in America.
To sum up the expectations for next week’s giant slalom: “The challenge is ready, Marco. Will you accept it this time?”
Who to Watch in Slalom
The home crowd will hope for their own to win, and chances are their wishes will come true, as Clement Noel (FRA) has proven unbeatable in both preceding slalom competitions. Both times, winning from first place after the first run, he showed nerves of steel, which he would need to survive the pressure of home races.
But his challengers will chase him on the steep Bellavarde slope. First, another Frenchman, Steven Amiez, will look to please the home crowd and perhaps earn himself a first World Cup podium. Then there are the Norwegians and the Brazilian mentioned above. Compared to Noel, Amiez, or even Austrian Manuel Feller, these guys and the Swiss Loic Meillard (also a favorite) had to undergo overseas travel and only came to France on Monday. That may raise the chances of Clement Noel demolishing the slalom competition once again.
Manuel Feller, last year’s overall slalom champion, used the previous weekend to heal his hip injury and chase the DNF demons away instead of taking the trip to North America. Will this work for him? Let us hope so. Once Feller finds his lost form and mental calm, he will surely make Noel’s life more difficult and our experience while watching the World Cup more exciting.
