Feller captures first World Cup title as Kranjska Gora slalom is cancelled
Mar 06, 2024·Alpine Skiing
Manuel Feller (AUT) is a World Cup slalom champion. And he didn’t even have to buckle up his ski boots.
The 31-year-old Austrian officially clinched his first season title after FIS and Kranjska Gora race organizers were forced to cancel the penultimate slalom scheduled for Saturday due to torrential rain over a 24-hour period that destroyed the Podkoren race slope. FIS officials sought a potential replacement, but no organizer could be found considering the tight time constraints.
As a result of the cancellation in Slovenia, and with only one slalom race remaining at the World Cup Finals in Saalbach on March 17, Feller’s 169-point advantage over nearest challenger Linus Strasser (GER) became insurmountable.
“It’s amazing, but at the moment it’s a little bit hard to recognize – everybody wanted it decided on the slope, but the advantage over Linus was pretty high,” Feller said. “But still in slalom, anything can happen. You can say the opportunity was taken from Linus, but you can also say that the emotions were taken from me.”
Having just returned from races in the United States, Feller was headed home along with his cousin on Wednesday afternoon, 6 March. As they were getting into a car, he discovered the news. Caught by surprise, Feller and his cousin went to the supermarket to buy well-deserved beers to celebrate.
Feller won the season-opening slalom on home snow in Gurgl on 18 October and never looked back. He was the mark of consistency in an unpredictable discipline that can often be fickle.
Austria’s “Mr. Consistency” has finished inside the top five in all nine men's World Cup slalom events this season (1-5-1-1-4-5-4-1-5), triumphing in Adelboden, Wengen Palisades Tahoe, as well as that opener in Gurgl.
The 31-year-old veteran from Fieberbrunn in the Austrian Tyrol, explained the hard work and steps taken to ascertain the kind of consistency that he has displayed this season.
“The key has been already built up step-by-step over years,” Feller said “We've been working on some things that have gotten better and better over the years. My stable upper body and of course routine was a big point over the years, and this season.
“And of course the material has been working amazing. Both my serviceman Richie (Weißenbacher) and also my company Atomic has done a really good job. I changed my skis before Gurgl and that was probably one of the biggest keys to this amazing success.”
Feller commended Strasser for a hard-fought battle, one that became tighter after the German finished third in Aspen and second in Palisades Tahoe over the previous two races.
“I want to thank Linus for the fight this season and also everyone who was cheering for me in both good and bad times over so many years,” Feller said. “Altogether, 169-points is a big lead and you can’t call it luck for me that the race got cancelled.”
He joins his injured teammate Marco Schwarz as a World Cup slalom champion, as Schwarz won his title in 2020-21.
Hailing from the Austrian Tyrol, Feller etched his name in the record book alongside other esteemed slalom title victors from his country – Marcel Hirscher (6), Benjamin Raich (2), Thomas Sykora (2), Reinfried Herbst (1), Rainer Schoenfelder (1), Thomas Stangassinger and Alfred Matt (1).
Feller became emotional elaborating about what he is most satisfied with along the long journey to winning the crystal globe. He came close to a title, finishing second to Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) in 2021-22.
“I’m most proud that I didn’t give up over the years, looking back 10 years ago when I had my first back injury. There was pain (for) close to one year, not getting better over half a year and then just little steps,” Feller said.
He added; “I learned with every turn, I learned with every race, I learned with every year and finally routine was probably the key for this success."
Despite most likely finishing runner-up in the standings, Strasser enjoyed the best World Cup slalom season of his 10-year career. He charged to victories in Kitzbuehel and Schladming, and bagged four podium finishes, including at both the recent USA stops in Palisades Tahoe and Aspen.
Heading into the season finale, Strasser commands a 107-point advantage over Loic Meillard (SUI), who captured his first career slalom victory on 3 March in Aspen. The battle for the final position on the season-ending podium will also involve Beijing 2022 Olympic champion Clement Noel (FRA), currently fourth, and Timon Haugan (NOR) in fifth.
The men’s slalom skiers will have their last dance on Austrian snow in Saalbach on March 17. For Feller, it will simply be a victory lap.
