SR Staff Report
SCHLADMING,AUSTRIA,24.JAN.23 -Henrik Kristoffersen. Photo: GEPA pictures
SCHLADMING, Austria — Henrik Kristoffersen posted the fastest time in the opening run of a men’s World Cup slalom Tuesday, eying a record fifth win at the annual night race.
The Schladming Planai slope was shiny and smooth to start the race but temperatures are warm. It is a good surface but did experience minor degredation. Once again, the race crew and the FIS deserve credit for producing the best possible conditions. Today is the type of race that allows anyone skiing well to advance to the final. However, it is never easy.
It quickly became evident that, like Kitzbühel, the first racer to ski, Henrik Kristoffersen would be the leader going into the final run. However, there are plenty of talented slalom skiers close enough to threaten the Norwegian for victory. Kristoffersen left the gate with bib one and led the entire run.
Watched by 40,000 spectators, the Norwegian opened the race with a near-flawless run and was 0.21 seconds faster than home favorite Manuel Feller.
Kristoffersen had no difficulty with the surface. He has a highly competent team at Van Deer and they have found a great solution for today’s surface. Notably, last year’s champion Linus Strasser had just started when he straddled and became the only causality of the first seven. The elite seven were separated by (+1.18), with Sunday’s Hahnenkamm winner Daniel Yule being the furthest out. Yule finished the first run eigth.
Additional evidence of the ability of Van Deer to adapt came from bib 20, Norwegian Timon Haugan, who will start the second run ranked 10th. He joins four other Norwegians in the top 15.
At the end of the first fifteen, Kristoffersen, Manuel Feller and Loic Meillard were first, second and third, with only (+0.31) separating the three. Current season slalom leader Lucas Braathen is fourth (+0.57) behind his fellow Norwegian. Norway, Austria and Switzerland are represented in the top five with the Kitzbühel runner-up British racer Dave Ryding sixth.
Kristoffersen can become the first skier to win the floodlit slalom at the venue of the 2013 world championships for a fifth time. He currently shares the best mark of four wins with Austrian standout Benjamin Raich.
No male skier has won more than five World Cup slaloms at a single venue.
Kristoffersen earned the first of his 23 career World Cup wins nine years ago in Schladming, and won the race again in 2016, 2017 and 2020.
Two North Americans qualify
Canada’s Erik Read has been the most consistent North American to qualify for the final run this season. Read crossed the finish line (+3.01) behind the leader and qualified 22nd. However, today bib 42, USA’s Ben Ritchie (+4.00), 30th, will join Read. For the third time this season, Ritchie qualifies at the back of the field and will start the second run first. He skis fast when he has this opportunity, but has yet to finish the final run without a significant mistake. Today could be the day. He is more than capable of skiing at an elite level.
Three of the first 30 to start the first run did not finish, however, six skiers from outside the 30 qualified. The last to do so is Spain’s Juan Del Campo, who qualifies 29th and will start the second run immediately after Ritchie.
Analysis of the fastest four, CAN Erik Read and USA Benjamin Ritchie and top 30 first run results.
Top 30 first run results Schldming night slalom January 24th
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
