‘I am an OK skier’: Classy Kristoffersen narrows gap on Odermatt with timely GS win
Mar 01, 2025·Alpine Skiing
Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR/Van Deer) chose the perfect moment to produce his best performance of the season, with his victory in Kranjska Gora on Saturday throwing the race for the Giant Slalom Audi FIS World Cup Crystal Globe wide open.
The Norwegian’s love affair with the Podkoren is renowned and almost three years to the day since Kristoffersen last tasted World Cup GS success, he repeated the trick on his favorite hill to grab maximum points and close to within 41 of standings leader Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli).
The Swiss man boasts almost as stellar Kranjska Gora record as his Norwegian rival, but this time around he could not quite find his rhythm on the second run and faded to finish third, 0.52 seconds back.
Sandwiched between the two came Lucas Pinheiro-Braathen (BRA/Atomic). His charging afternoon effort propelling him up the leaderboard, just 0.41 seconds away from a first World Cup win in Brazilian colors.
That excitement will have to wait a little longer, as will those Andorrans who sensed a rare chance to unfurl their flags. An aggressive, on-the-edge morning run had put Joan Verdu (AND/Head) into third but the 29-year-old slipped out of contention after making too many errors in the afternoon.
Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR/Rossignol) knows the feeling. Twice a winner already this season, the youngster was hoping to make his own move in the Crystal Globe race. But fourth after run one, Steen Olsen never found his tempo in run two and dropped all the way down to 19th.
Perhaps he will seek out his teammate for advice ahead of Sunday’s Slalom.
King Kristoffersen rules again in Kranjska Gora
In the nine Kranjska Gora GS World Cup races since Kristoffersen first landed on the podium in 2016, he has won the race four times, finished second twice and third once more. There may have been nowhere else the 30-year-old wanted to be on Saturday, especially as despite all his recent consistency, Kristoffersen had not won a GS race since his 2022 Podkoren triumph.
“That’s why I am good here a lot of times. It is always in the spring, so a lot of time the conditions are easier and then it doesn’t hurt with the skis and the set up and everything, it’s more about the skier and I am an OK skier," Kristoffersen said, smiling.
“Really good conditions, both first run and second run. It almost felt better in the second run to ski, I’ll be honest. First run course set really good, second one a little faster.
“Today was a really good day, really good skiing.”
Odermatt feeling the squeeze
No man other than Kristoffersen or Odermatt has won a GS World Cup race in Kranjska Gora since Marcel Hirscher in 2018. And the fact both were on the podium once more sets up the Crystal Globe battle beautifully, with two more races to come.
“For sure I feel the pressure, my advantage is getting less and less, smaller and smaller,” Odermatt said, before adding; “But it’s still there. I am going to fight until the end.”
Just 0.15 seconds behind Kristoffersen at the halfway-stage, the reigning World Cup GS champion was in a good position to pile the pressure on the leader. But seeimgly thrown out of rhythm by a bumpy beginning, Odermatt leaked time throughout and even a trademark finishing surge could not save him this time.
Reward for Pinheiro Braathen after tough times
Pinheiro Braathen knows better than most just how good Kristoffersen is in softer snow, and indeed in Kranjska Gora. One-time teammates, Pinheiro Braathen had to be at his very best to come back from 0.88 seconds behind after run one to grab a podium finish.
“If I thought the win was possible, I would have been dancing like a maniac in the finish area,” Pinheiro Braathen said with a smile after ending second.
“It's really surprising that I was able to clinch Marco today. I'm really proud of that. He's a skier that I respect with so much. So, I'm really proud of that. And Henrik yeah, I mean, he's, he's amazing when it comes to this grindy, salty snow, and especially here in Kranjska Gora. He held it down, claimed the win. Nothing but respect to him.”
The 24-year-old’s return to the World Cup after a year-long absence, has been impressive with six top-five finishes across the technical disciplines before Saturday. But things have been challenging recently, making the return to the podium even sweeter.
“February, it’s just been tough man, it's just been right hooks to the face, left, right and center. I had no trust in my skiing recently, and then, with the sickness coming into World Champs, really knocked me out. I've spent the following eight, nine days on the bed trying to do everything I can. Analyzing ski racing from the past, working with my ski brand, doing everything in my power besides moving to get back on my feet and to return with the most amount of success.
“I've been working so hard to make my way back so to come here on this demanding snow in Kranjska Gora, such a demanding Giant Slalom race, with success, it's a special one for me and my team today.”
He will get a chance to improve that second place in Sunday’s Slalom. But they may all be chasing one man again, as he hunts down Ted Ligety’s (USA) resort record of six World Cup wins.
“I will hopefully come back next year and tomorrow too, with the Slalom,” Kristoffersen smiled.
