Kristoffersen completes ‘big goal’ double at Kranjska Gora with Slalom gold

Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR/Van Deer) already loved Kranjska Gora before this weekend, but the Norwegian confirmed he is the king of the Podkoren piste on Sunday, following up his GS win yesterday with a gutsy Slalom triumph.

Kristoffersen started the second run in joint sixth place but put in a technically brilliant performance to claim his second Slalom victory of the season. It was the first time in his career he has won a GS and a Slalom in the same weekend.

His closest rivals for the Slalom Crystal Globe meanwhile lost ground – Loic Meillard (SUI/Rossignol) was fourth and Clément Noël (FRA/Dynastar) finished tenth after a scrappy second run, meaning the Norwegian now has one hand on the trophy with two Slalom races left.

It was a fine day for Norway – and for Van Deer skis – too, as Timon Haugan (NOR/Van Deer) claimed second place.

Manuel Feller (AUT/ Atomic), who has struggled to defend the Slalom Crystal Globe he won in fine fashion last season, looked back on form as he finished third.

Kristoffersen seals ‘career goal’ double
Loic Meillard (SUI/Rossignol), the recently crowned Slalom World Champion, had led after the first run, but Kristoffersen applied huge pressure on the second.

The Norwegian has a habit of winning from behind, and on a slope he has identified as favouring more technical skiers – “you can’t cheat yourself a good result here”, he said yesterday – he once again excelled.

He made minor errors at the top and mid-section of the course, but recovered with lightning speed, and finished the course impeccably.

Kristoffersen then faced ten agonising minutes as his rivals tried to top him, but one by one they faltered. Noël, continuing his ‘boom or bust' season, struggled to find a groove on the rutted track, while Meillard was cautious early on and made a big mid-course error.

“I didn’t think I was going to win today, I thought maybe fourth or fifth, because I made a little mistake after the first roller in the second run, but it’s a good day,” said  Kristoffersen.

“It was a good second run. I still feel like I messed up the top and second section a little bit, the bottom I skied really good.

“It is my first double weekend with GS and Slalom. I’ve won GS and GS the same weekend. I’ve won Slalom and Slalom. I’ve been second in GS and first in Slalom, first in GS and second in Slalom. So this was a big goal for me.

“It is a hill I really enjoy. This suits me, conditions where it’s all about the skier."

Haugan savours Slovenia
Haugan, like Noël, has had a feast or famine Slalom season: he has won three times in his last ten World Cup Slalom outings, and this was his second time finishing in second place. Outside of that, he’s not finished higher than eighth.

Today was a good day. Haugan put in a similar run to his compatriot: technically solid, risk taking, scrappy but always in a groove, recovering rapidly from occasionally being pushed onto his heels.

It was his best performance by a mile on this track: his previous best in Kranjska Gora was 20th in 2021.

“It was close, very close,” he said. “The second run was very difficult. It’s been a great season for us really, and it’s the first double win for Henrik and I with Van Deer, which is really cool.

“I’ve always really liked Kranjska, so I’m very happy to get my first podium here.”

Feller, meanwhile, showed the aggressive line and bullish attitude that won him the Globe last season. He gained three places in the second run to seal third, despite skirting close to skiing out at the top.

“My skiing, on the first run the middle part was not that good, but still a solid run,” he said.

“On the second run I was a little bit surprised after I crossed the finish line that I was only two tenths behind, because the first part was not good.

“I was close to DNF on the inside ski two times, I was too straight, and for that it was a really good race. So I’m super happy for the podium.

“When Tanguy [Nef] was behind me I thought ‘OK, maybe it wasn’t too easy to ski’. I didn’t expect Loic to not advance me. I’m happy because Loic is the best technical skier right now.

“The day was amazing, blue sky and an awesome atmosphere, a perfect ski day.”

Kristoffersen will certainly agree with that. With two Slaloms left this season, Hafjell and Sun Valley, he is on 567 points. Noël is on 490, Meillard on 465 and Haugan on 459.