Even the traditional Swiss World Cup resorts groan under the mild temperatures this winter. In Adelboden, the men’s technical competitions are at least assured this weekend thanks to sufficient artificial snow. The sporting favorite on the Chuenisbärgli is local hero Marco Odermatt, who wants to repeat last year’s victory. Henrik Kristoffersen has tasted blood after his first victory and would like to triumph in the giant slalom with Van Deer equipment.
Last year, Odermatt won the giant slalom classic in front of enthusiastic fans, almost half a second ahead of Manuel Feller. The 25-year-old Swiss has been on the podium in every World Cup race in this discipline since October 2021 and is therefore also the main favorite on Saturday. After his successes such as Olympic gold and overall World Cup victory, he could have taken it a little more relaxed, but he was aware of the high expectations, Odermatt said on Thursday. “A podium is practically mandatory,” he underlined.
Among the fiercest competitors, in addition to Feller and the Slovenian Zan Kranjec, there are in particular two Norwegians: Kristoffersen and Lucas Braathen. After Kristoffersen’s slalom success on Wednesday in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Ferdinand Hirscher, the eminence grise of Van Deer/Red Bull Sports, revealed that his son and company founder Marcel had recently intensively tested giant slalom skis for Kristoffersen on the Reiteralm. “This is the only way to make progress,” explained Hirscher senior.
“It’s working pretty well right now,” Kristoffersen said. “When the material works, life is usually a little easier. Then I’m not so angry or upset.” “I never imagined that Kristoffersen would one day be his protégé,” said Ferdinand Hirscher. “We were really tough competitors.” The report is surprisingly good: “He’s fun to work with.”
Johannes Strolz surprisingly won the slalom on the Chuenisbärgli in 2022, having been expelled from the ÖSV squads the previous summer. However, the victory only heralded even greater successes in China, where the Vorarlberger won Olympic gold in the alpine combined and team competition as well as silver in the slalom.
Sold out tickets
Like a year ago, the Austrian technicians – with the exception of Feller, who has already conquered three second places – are still a bit indebted this year. At least that’s how the men’s racing director Marko Pfeifer sees it, who was not at all happy after the giant slalom in Alta Badia and only partially happy after the slalom in Garmisch. “We want to win. I’m not entirely satisfied because the others didn’t win the prize like Schwarz, Gstrein and Pertl,” said Pfeifer in Upper Bavaria. “But there are still races to do and I’m convinced we can do much more.” Feller, on the other hand, said he was “extremely satisfied. I’m going to Adelboden with confidence”. In terms of slalom, Adelboden is a good place for the ÖSV, as there has only been one Austrian up front since 2018 (Daniel Yule 2020). Marcel Hirscher (2018 and 2019) was followed by Marco Schwarz (2021) and Strolz the previous year.
Rain and clear spells again and again recently caused headaches for the organizers in the Bernese Oberland. In Adelboden, two slopes are the only white streaks in an otherwise green landscape. The races on the Chuenisbärgli were able to take place despite all adverse weather conditions, because enough artificial snow could be produced on the cold December nights. The two cold nights on Friday and Saturday certainly help.
“The Adelbodners have everything under control,” longtime Swiss coach Thomas Stauffer said optimistically. In any case, the Swiss fans are counting on it, because the organizers announced on Wednesday: “Sold out”.
