Steen Olsen gets first victory in dramatic finish
Feb 26, 2023·Alpine Skiing
It was a dramatic finish on the stormy slopes in Lake Tahoe for the men’s slalom race on the Audi FIS World Cup tour.
The conditions and visibility worsened as the final 15 skiers in the field took the summit.
AJ Ginnis (GRE) took the lead with a dramatic finish, seeing the green lights by a margin of 0.01 seconds. Ginnis finished atop the standings but after review, the officials determined the Greek skier straddled a gate and was thus disqualified following the completion of the race.
The disqualification allowed 21-year-old Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR) to claim his first ever World Cup victory, after moving up from second (0.01 seconds behind Ginnis).
“It is so unbelievable, I don’t know what to say. It is insane. The visibility was a challenge but the conditions were okay. You just have to believe in yourself and go,” said Steen Olsen.
“I am from Norway and there is a lot of snow there, it is not just the US so I just went for it,” continued Steen Olsen.
Norway was well represented on the podium as Timon Haugan (NOR) picked up second place. His second career World Cup podium.
“Getting back on the podium has been a big goal for me and has been for years. I am so happy to be back here and with my new equipment, it feels really good,” said Haugan.
Haugan agreed with his Norwegian teammate on the conditions.
“In Norway it snows a lot so we are used to it, and I think it is a big advantage,” said Haugan.
Albert Popov (BUL) and Clement Noel (FRA) moved up for a tie in third place.
It is the first career World Cup podium for Popov after he put down the fastest time during the second runs.
“It is a dream come true. I have been waiting a so much and a long time. The form is good and today I had a little bit of luck and I feel good,” said Popov.
Noel now has three podiums on the season.
Lucas Braathen (NOR) came in as the World Cup slalom leader but struggled in the tough conditions. The Norwegian youngster finished with the 20th fastest time after the first run and could not make up enough ground on his second run to make the podium, finishing in seventh place.
He now leads the slalom standings by a slim margin with one slalom race remaining.
Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) stumbled a bit through the final gates of his second run and had to settle for fifth place**,** missing an opportunity to make up crucial points in the slalom standings.
Coming off his big win on Saturday in the giant slalom, Marco Schwarz (AUT) struggled in his first run and ended up 15th.
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