Giant Slalom king Odermatt wins season opener in Sölden

The Audi FIS Alpine World Cup season got underway in style in Sölden, Austria on Saturday, with a magnificent men’s Giant Slalom race won by Marco Odermatt (SUI).

On a course full of fans ecstatic to be back on the slopes after previous restrictions, reigning Giant Slalom world champion Odermatt won emphatically on the Rettenbach glacier.

Zan Kranjec (SLO) was second (+0.76) and Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) finished third (+0.97).

It was a hard-fought race, with the fastest skiers from the first run struggling with a deteriorating piste.

“I was actually not sure if this was enough to win,” said Odermatt, 25, about crossing the line. “It was a really big fight, bumpy and difficult, the snow got worse and worse. It was really hard to ski and I guess everyone made some mistakes. So I’m really happy.

“It’s an amazing start to the new season. Sölden is always special, and it is very important if you can have a good result. It gives you confidence you did everything right in the summer, and it’s easier to ski the next races.”

Odermatt, who also won in Sölden last season, confirmed his dominance of the Giant Slalom. The world no.1, who won his first distance Crystal Globe in the GS last season, seemed under no pressure, and took some risks as he gathered his first 100 points of the year. It was the 12th World Cup win of his career.

Kranjec, the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games GS silver medallist, was happy with his second place. “It’s nice to start the season like this, I really love this course,” he said. “I’ve been successful quite a lot, so I’m pleased.

“If you want to win (in Sölden) you need to do everything perfect. We see how good Odermatt is.”

Kristoffersen, meanwhile, was relieved to make it onto the podium for the first time at a venue he has struggled at in the past. “It’s unbelievable – before today this was my worst hill in Giant Slalom on the tour,” he said. “Without the two mistakes it would have looked even better. Perfect doesn’t exist. It’s a great day for Norway.”

Indeed it was: Kristoffersen was referencing the fact that seven Norwegian skiers made it into the final 30 that contested the second run.

Lucas Braathen was among them. Lying second after the first run, the man who won this race in 2020 ultimately finished fourth. “It’s bittersweet for sure, but I’m happy, I did a great job today to give it my all,” he said. “It was brutal, but hey, what a race.”

The action came after the disappointment of the women’s race being cancelled on Saturday.

With the men’s Downhill racing at Zermatt-Cervinia (SUI) also being cancelled due to a lack of snow and the safety situation on the last section of the piste, the next men’s racing will come in the Parallel Giant Slalom at Lech-Zuers (AUT) on Sunday, 13 November.