Marco Odermatt started the season off with a win and ended the season with victory in the last Giant Slalom of the season as well. This was a demonstration of just what the world of Giant Slalom ski racing can expect in the future. It was not a massive margin of victory but the 24 year old Swiss racer produced a performance that had him being measured against the likes of Marcel Hirscher again. Lucas Braathen finished second with Loic Meillard third.
Odermatt had a lead of just two tenths over Braathen after the first run with Justin Murisier in third and Meillard in fourth. The big surprise was the World Junior Champion (and recently crowned Europa Cup Slalom Champion) Alexander Steen Olsen going into 8th from starting 26th and last.
With the end of season snow melting and causing a change in tactics for the racers, light feet and clean lines were needed. Too many racers used the tactic of drifting into the turn before getting purchase on the outside ski and firing out of the turn. A clean line from the top of the turn to the end was needed to keep the speed intact.
Odermatt is in a class of his own at the moment and how he adapts to each hill and the different snow conditions is amazing to watch. A battle between him and Marcel Hirscher (amongst others) at his peak would be a joy to watch. The GS and Overall Globes had already been decided so this was just a race for the minor places on the GS podium as well as World Cup points to help for next year on the WCSL.
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde effectively gave up on the Overall by not racing in Kranjska Gora but proved he has good skills in Giant Slalom by posting the fastest time on the second run. Sure it helped he went first on the run but still an impressive performance by the Super G and Downhill Globe winner.
Despite crashing out on the first run, Henrik Kristoffersen (the only other man to win a GS this season apart from Odermatt) held on to second in the standings ahead of Manuel Feller (who finished 16th) who was just ahead of Braathen.
Patrick Feurstein held the lead for a while as he moved up from 20th to 7th with the second fastest second run time.
The likes of Odermatt, Braathen, McGrath, Steen Olsen along with the likes of River Radamus and hopefully Charlie Raposo will be in the sport for some time yet! Austria and the rest will need to raise their talent searching over the next few years to be in with a shout.
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