Reiteralm (AUT) hosting last back-to-back races before World Championships
Feb 13, 2023·Ski Cross
The world cup circuit is back in Austria for back-to-back races at Crosspark Reiteralm from 14 – 17 February 2023. The Crosspark is not only one of our most challenging courses on the tour but also a well-known location for the ski and snowboard cross athletes from all around the world, as most of them have already trained on the course here in the region Schladming. Athletes do not only have the possibility to train on the course when there is snow, but also during summer, as part of the course is built in the terrain and covered with mats which makes it a unique training possibility in Europe.
Recap back-to-back races Idre Fjäll (SWE)
At our last destination Idre Fjäll, we saw two spectacular days of racing on the 1.100m long course, with the Swedish team taking home 5 out of 10 podium spots whereof 3 have been victories.
On the women’s side it was, as the last 15 races, Sandra Naeslund dominating every single run and so winning both races on home soil in front of her family and friends. The question on both day’s was, who will earn the other two spots next to Naeslund. On Saturday, we had Smith, Maier and Ofner fighting for the second and third place. Ofner who already made a mistake in the start section got fourth, Maier who was in second position till the finish strait got third, Smith who overtook Maier in the last section got second on day one.
On Sunday, we saw again Smith and Ofner in the big final next to the Swede, but this time, Thompson completed the quartet. Behind Naeslund, Ofner managed to ski from place four to place two in the last section and so finally stood on the podium after one year. Thompson in the end got third and on day two, Smith had to accept the bittersweet fourth place.
On the men’s side of things we saw two different athletes on top of the podium each day. Day one we can call the Mobaerg brothers’ day, as the younger brother David, made a last second pass and won the race, while his older brother Erik got third. The two Mobaerg brothers not only stood on the podium together for the first time, but it was also Erik’s first ever WC podium. Next to the two Swedes, we saw Howden on the podium in second position and Bachsleitner in fourth position.
Sunday’s race was dominated by the Canadian Reece Howden, who won every single run this day. The Swede Erik Mobaerg skied his way down to his second career podium and got second, the German Müller achieved his second podium this season and got third and the young Italian Doromedis unfortunately crashed in the start section and broke his collarbone, which means, he will not be racing in Reiteralm.
Favourites for Reiteralm
With 700 points, our current World Cup leader Sandra Naeslund (SWE) is also the leader in the list of most wins in Reiteralm, as she won both races which were held here in Austria in the years 2021 and 2022. The fact that she is unbeaten since 15 World Cup races definitely makes her the favourite on the women’s side.
We also have to have an eye on Fanny Smith (SUI) who is in second position with 390 points, on Marielle Thompson (CAN) in third position with 374 points and on Daniela Maier (GER) in fourth position with 289 points. These four women stood in the semi finals in every race this season.
Next to these four we should also put Katrin Ofner (AUT) on our list, as she got second in the last race, and as we have seen in Sweden, we should not underrate the positive impact of a home race.
On the men’s side of things we should also have our current World Cup leader Reece Howden (CAN) on top of our list. He already stood on the podium in Reiteralm twice, whereof one has been a victory. 153 points behind Howden, with 328 points, Mathias Graf is in second position in the overall ranking trying to bring home the win on home soil. In third position we can see the Swede David Mobaerg with 289 points trying to catch up with the Canadian and the Austrian.
The next three places in the overall ranking are occupied by the German team on which we should also always have an eye on.
First Qualifications which count for the first final on Thursday will now already go down one day earlier, on Tuesday, 14 February 2023 at 10:30 CET men and at 11:10 CET women, due to the warm weather. The second Qualifications will get underway on Wednesday, 15 February 2023. Women’s Qualification which will count for the race on Friday starts at 10:30 CET followed by the Qualification Men at 11:10 CET.
All four Qualification runs can be followed via the FIS App or on our website via live timing.
WATCH Finals LIVE (subject to change)
Thursday, 16.02.2023 at 11:30 CET:
TV info coming soon (please check back for detailed TV info)
Friday, 17.02.2023 at 11:30 CET:
TV info coming soon (please check back for detailed TV info)
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