Giant Slalom World Cup in Saalbach: Can the Austrians surprise?

Giant Slalom World Cup in Saalbach: Can the Austrians surprise?

On February 14, 2025, the Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm will be the venue for a thrilling competition in the men's giant slalom, where the reigning world champion and Olympic champion Marco Odermatt from Switzerland will start the race as the big favorite. The first round begins at 9.45 a.m. and the signs are set for an exciting event. The competition is strong, especially the Norwegian Alexander Steen Olsen, who is considered one of the best challengers. In addition, the Austrian athletes Stefan Brennsteiner, Patrick Feurstein, Raphael Haaser and Marco Schwarz are aiming for top places. According to reports from Krone.at The special atmosphere of the home World Cup event brings both anticipation and nervousness for the athletes.

Preparations and emotions

The athletes feel the pressure and emotions of competition. Brennsteiner, who has recently shown strong performances, is above all motivated to finally triumph after several narrowly missed opportunities at major events. “It would be cool if it worked out at a major event,” said the fourth-placed World Cup winner in 2023, emphasizing that he would like to use his performance to end up in the best ranks. Feurstein, who is connected to history in his homeland, emphasized: "It's a unique experience. You have to stay focused and make good use of the home advantage," reported this Wikipedia.

In the current season, Odermatt has won three races, despite a bumpy start, and has thus established an impressive starting position. This day could be an opportunity for him to demonstrate his dominance in giant slalom. The history of the World Cup in Saalbach is exciting; The last Austrian titles were won by greats like Hermann Maier and Marcel Hirscher. Excitement and anticipation grow among spectators and participants as athletes prepare to give their best to compete in one of the most difficult competitions of the season.