The coaches were allowed to nominate up to six competitors for the race, which is run by a specific elimination method from the round of 16 to the final match. Four skiers, two women and two men, could compete on the track for one team in each round.
While large national teams such as Switzerland and Austria had a choice of competitors, the captain of the Czech team, Jan Fiedler, put everything he had at his disposal. The lineup consisted of Martina Dubovská, Adriana Jelínková, Elese Sommerová and Jan Zabystřan with Filip Forejtek.
In the round of 16, the Czech Republic faced a difficult but not invincible opponent – Italy. She let the two world champions, Federica Brignone and Marta Bassin, rest. Lara Della Mea was the most experienced player of the “squadra azzurra”.
She dealt with the slalom specialist Dubovská in the opening match. Zabystřan lost his run to Alex Vinatzer by one-hundredth of a second, which turned out to be crucial. Although Jelínková gave the Czech Republic hope, and Forejtek beat Della Vite in the duel between Philippi, the Italians still advanced with a better time.
“It’s a shame. We almost made it. I’d say the ride was good. I’m proud of us,” Jelínková said at the finish line. “We gave a great team performance, we reached for the promotion. I think everyone gave very good performances and I hope they will evaluate them in the next races” said coach Fiedler.
The Americans made it to the finals, having dealt with Canada in the North American semi-finals. Against them were the defending champions from Norway, who managed to beat the Olympic winners, the Austrians, on already heavily damaged tracks.
In the first run, O’Brien, driving on the red track, fell for Kristin Lysdahl. But the Norwegians immediately equalized thanks to Alexander Steen Olsen. The exciting duel continued with the third run, in which Moltzanová and Thea Louise Stjernesund drove the same time to the hundredth and both received a point according to the rules. The premier gold in the discipline was won by Ford for the USA, as Haugan made a huge mistake at the start and essentially stopped on the spot.
Canada’s male and female skiers won bronze, and with their third medal they are already experiencing a dream World Championship. Valerie Grenier, Britt Richardson and Erik and Jeffrey Read edged Austria at 2-2.
The team race in parallel slalom, which until now has been a traditional part of the world championships and the Olympic Games, may have lost its edge in Courchevel. At the next WC, there should be a combined team competition.
Individual failures in parallel slalom
The closest to progressing to the main stage of the parallel slalom was Jelínková, a specialist in the giant slalom, which the race is most similar to by setting up goals. She set the tenth time in her red course, with the eight fastest qualifying. The Brno native, who represented the Netherlands until last season, was two tenths of a second short of advancing.
Dubovská slalom runner was fifteenth in the same track, Sommerová did not finish the race. Zabystřan drove the qualification in the blue track and was the last among the sixteen drivers who finished the race.
The title from Cortina 2021 will not be defended by French Mathieau Faivre or Austrian Katharina Liensbergerová, who did not advance to the race. Italian Marta Bassinová, who two years ago shared first place with Liensberger and clocked the third overall time in the qualification, will have a chance to repeat the gold.
