Six podium places in three races: the Austrians are suddenly a force in slalom

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Marcel Hirscher (34) spoiled Ski Austria with slalom victories for years. In 2017/18, for example, he won seven of nine races, and in his final season he also triumphed five times. Since his resignation in September 2019, returns have been mixed. Manuel Feller (31) and Marco Schwarz (28) each won two slaloms in the winter of 2020/21, but the Austrians also failed to win twice (2019/20 and 2022/23).

Before the start of the current season, Johannes Strolz (31) was the last Austrian slalom winner. Two years ago he achieved the only victory of the season in Adelboden. Now the Austrian slalom world looks completely different again.

“I’m almost out of words”

After three races, the men have six podium places to their name. They came out on top every time, and at the home race in Gurgl they were a total triumph. The fact that the first three slaloms are won by one country has historical dimensions. The last time this happened was almost twenty years ago. In the 2005/06 season, the Italian Giorgio Rocca (48) did not get further than the first five races.

“Three wins – I’m almost at a loss for words,” Austrian head coach Marko Pfeifer told ORF on Sunday. He praised his team, everyone worked very hard. Even during the first races it became apparent that they could ski very well.

Last winter they could not realize this potential. Two second places – that was all there was to it in the slalom. Now Austria even has a new podium place with Dominik Raschner (29). Third place in Adelboden is his debut at the World Cup. And for winner Manuel Feller a dream comes true, because the Chuenisbärgli “is one of my favorite slopes, if not my favorite slope.”

The Austrians also have three trump cards up their sleeve that have not yet been played. After a difficult last season, Johannes Strolz (eight failures) and Adrian Pertl (27, three failures) still lack the necessary self-confidence. Moreover, according to Pfeifer, Fabio Gstrein (26) often sets the tone in training, but he cannot implement this in the race.

Crystal ball still too far away

Next Sunday, Feller will compete in the slalom in Wengen as leader of the discipline rankings. But people in Austria don’t want to know about the little crystal ball. This is “of course a goal,” says Pfeifer, “but there are still so many races. That’s too far away.”

It remains to be seen whether an Austrian will also celebrate at the Lauberhorn slalom. The last time this was the case was six years ago. The winner at the time: Marcel Hirscher. (beer)

Source : Blick