Ski check of the weekend: Feller’s tears, Pauli Gut’s apple pie and Odermatt’s problem

Mathias Germann And Marcel W. Perren

Austrian slalom star Manuel Feller has achieved the goal of his dreams: after second place in the home race in Saalbach, the 31-year-old triumphantly lifts the small crystal ball for victory in the overall slalom rankings. Then it gets really emotional: Feller, with tearful eyes, scribbles the name Matti in the snow in the finish area. “That is the name of a friend who died a year and a half ago, two days before the season opener in Sölden, and who had a huge impact on me,” explains the Tyrolean. «Matti wasn’t much into skiing, he was more of a skater and snowboarder. He had a great influence on me, especially in music, and was the glue of our circle of friends. He had a huge impact on my personality; Without him I certainly wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

With the handbrake on, Lara Gut-Behrami wins the giant slalom and the overall World Cup. “I can’t and don’t want to drive tactically,” she says, but she does it anyway. Successfully. Afterwards, there will be a sweet surprise for your family and caregivers at the finish area to celebrate and strengthen you. “This is the best apple pie I’ve ever had,” says Gut-Behrami’s father Pauli happily.

The gigantic series is broken. After Marco Odermatt won twelve giant slaloms in a row across all seasons, the 26-year-old was eliminated for the first time since the 2021 World Cup at the last giant of this winter. But that does not detract from the Nidwalden resident’s season record. Odermatt will most likely receive the Super-G and Downhill crystals in Saalbach in addition to the large overall World Cup ball and the small giant slalom ball. And that is why the three-time Swiss athlete of the year has a luxury problem: there is no more room for trophies in the display cases of Odermatt’s trophy room in Buochs. That is why Marco’s great-uncle Toni Frank is now being called upon. «Toni is a gifted carpenter. “He now has to come up with a temporary solution so that Marco’s new balls get a good place,” says Odermatt’s father Walti, grinning.

How many more balls can Lara Gut-Behrami get? Two Austrian women want to oversalt her soup. Stephanie Venier is 68 points behind Gut-Behrami in the Super-G World Cup, Cornelia Hütter is 69 points behind the Swiss in the downhill. Both hope that the warm and wet spring weather in Saalbach will make speed racing possible. And of course to a tension drop Gut-Behramis. By the way: Venier (nickname Aunt Gucci) has been in a relationship with Hütter’s ex-boyfriend Christian Walder since January. Since then she has won two races – in the previous ten years she won only once. Love inspires!

While Gut-Behrami is clearly in the lead in both the Super-G and Downhill World Cup, things are much closer at the Women’s European Cup in Kvitfjell (No.) – especially in the overall standings. There are only 12 points between leading Norwegian Bianca Bakke Westhoff and Karen Clément (Fr), who is in fourth place. The battle in the World Cup discipline is crucial because the top 3 will receive a permanent place for the coming World Cup season. Of the Swiss women who achieved this: Nicole Good (slalom) and Stefanie Grob (giant slalom). For the final Super-G race, Janine Schmitt has very good chances as leader of the discipline classification and even Malorie Blanc, who suffered a torn cruciate ligament, can still hope for a permanent place in second.

ÖSV Secretary General Christian Scherrer is once again very angry with the leadership of the International Ski Association. “It’s really annoying because the FIS has still not managed to draw up the calendar for the next World Cup winter.” Planning comes to a standstill, mainly due to the Matterhorn descent in Zermatt-Cervinia. FIS chairman Johan Eliasch would like to give the two-country descent (start in Switzerland, finish in Italy) another chance next November, just like Swiss Ski and the Italian federation. After all races at the Gran Becca had to be canceled over the past two years, it is currently unclear whether cancellation insurance for this event can be taken out under reasonable conditions.

One should celebrate the festivals as they fall. This also applies to Lara Gut-Behrami – although the Ticino resident went home to relax on Sunday evening. She will be back in Saalbach on Tuesday and the first downhill training will take place on Wednesday. And what about next season? Gut-Behrami says she wants to move on. “But maybe I’ll stop,” she adds. So far so unclear. One thing is certain: Mikaela Shiffrin is already eager to win the overall World Cup next winter. “I will do everything I can this summer to fight for it.” She is not tired yet because she has not been able to ski for weeks due to her injury. Follow ski tests. And in which disciplines will she compete next winter? «I don’t want to give up anything, but I want to be effective. We will discuss this in detail as a team,” said the 97-time World Cup winner.

Norwegian super talent Alexander Steen Olsen once again revealed during the season finale that his nerves are not nearly as strong as his technique – just like during the races in Aspen, the 22-year-old fell far in the second run of the giant slalom in Saalbach after a strong first run back (from 3rd to 9th place). Steen Olsen then panics and hits a barrier behind the stands with his ski pole! 24 hours later there is still reason to celebrate in the Viking camp: Timon Haugan gives the Norwegian men’s team their first victory of the season in the final slalom.