KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia — In an exciting display of skill and precision, Henrik Kristoffersen led the initial run of the men’s World Cup giant slalom, narrowly outpacing Marco Odermatt on Saturday. The two athletes are demonstrating their dominance once again at the Podkoren course, nestled in the scenic Slovenian resort of Kranjska Gora.
Both Kristoffersen from Norway and Odermatt from Switzerland have a history of success at this venue, each claiming victory in three out of the last six giant slalom events since 2019. Kristoffersen, who clinched the world championship title in 2019, was a mere 0.15 seconds faster than Odermatt. This event could mark his first victory in this discipline since March 2022, also at Kranjska Gora.
Positioned third in the current season standings, Kristoffersen trails by 81 points behind the leader Odermatt. Odermatt is not only the Olympic champion but also a three-time World Cup giant slalom champion, hailing from Switzerland, reinforcing the competitive narrative between these two remarkable skiers.
Joan Verdu of Andorra is also in the mix, securing third place after the opening run, trailing 0.52 seconds behind. Other competitors have struggled to catch up, with no one finishing within eight-tenths of Kristoffersen’s lead time.
Highlighting another impressive performance, Austrian world champion Raphael Haaser stood out as the best-ranked skier from Austria, securing the eighth position. This was his first appearance since winning the gold medal during a competition at Saalbach-Hinterglemm two weeks ago.
Curiously, the Austrian men’s team finds itself in the midst of a dry spell, having not secured a World Cup race win in 33 events since Manuel Feller’s triumph in a slalom in February 2024. This unfortunate streak is reminiscent of the 34-event winless stretch they experienced during the 1991-92 season.
