Obmann, meanwhile, claimed both titles in the men’s slalom and overall, having not even realised it was possible at the day’s start.
Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) led the way in both standings heading into the final race, just needing to progress past the first round to claim a pair of globes. However, the Italian didn’t have an answer to Auner in the round of 16, losing out by 0.13s to the Austrian after making a small error. On such small margins are races, and seasons, won and lost.
By virtue of claiming a first-ever World Cup win – in which he also beat another challenger, compatriot Prommegger by just 0.06s in the quarter finals – and claiming 100 points, Obmann scored enough to beat Bormolini by four points in the overall rankings, and two points in slalom. Many tears were shed by the Austrian who was raised aloft on his teammates’ shoulders while blinking back the tears. Bormolini was likely welling up too, although for a different reason entirely.
Third-placed Prommegger knows that feeling only too well after missing out on the giant slalom globe to Roland Fischnaller (ITA) on Wednesday, in an equally dramatic finale. A combination of results went the Italian’s way, plus his win on the day, to sneak him past those who had been ahead of him, beating Prommegger to the slalom title by eight points. Hofmeister won the women’s edition.
Prommegger finished third in the overall standings, however, on 465 points to Obmann’s 485. Bormolini finished second on 481, with Alexander Payer (AUT) fourth on 433.
The season’s slalom conclusion saw Obmann on 297, Bormolini on 295, Auner on 251 and Payer on 225.
“It’s crazy,” Obmann told FIS. “I just won my first race, and I didn’t even count the points before the race and didn’t even know it was possible to win the globe so it’s just crazy. My first win in a World Cup race and now I go home with two crystal globes, it’s unbelievable.
“I’m just feeling so lucky today and I’m so happy for all the people who helped me to achieve this. In one day, everything gets back what you’ve worked for the last 20 years, it’s just one day, one moment, everything gets back and so much more. This is awesome.”
And so, attention turns to the final race of the season, the mixed team event taking place on Sunday (19 March), where more thrills and spills are likely to provide a dramatic conclusion to the 2022/23 FIS World Cup alpine snowboard season.
