Photo: Kristoffersen. GEPA pictures.

Before yielding to the sun, the first run of the Val d’lsere slalom started under cloudy skies with light snow. The men’s slalom skiers have waited until today to start the season, and a power outage caused an additional delay. By the time bib one, Braathen, left the start, it was 18 minutes past the scheduled start. However, the men’s slalom season had finally opened. 

The 2021-22 SL was known for many different skiers competing for victory. This season is the same. However, the Norwegian team had three of the first seven starters, and two led the field at the end of the first run. Last year’s slalom title winner Kristoffersen leads his countryman Braathen by 0.07 seconds. Austria’s Manuel Feller rounds the top three 0.56 behind the fastest Norwegian. 

Times seemed to start falling into place until bib 20, Sweden’s Kristoffer Jakobsen crossed the finish fourth only 0.03 behind Feller. However, Jakobsen’s speed is no surprise; he is known for great runs and for having trouble completing races. Maybe today will be his day.

Another outstanding performance from a higher start number came from a former USST athlete, now skiing for Greece, AJ Ginnis. Ginnis is also known for his speed and has experienced multiple injuries that have prevented him from reaching his potential. AJ started with bib 49 and finished the first run 13th. 

Additionally, a skier supplying excitement with a high bib was Italian Tobias Kastlunger. Kastlunger started with bib 67 and ended the first run 26th. 

Olympic champion Clément Noël, silver medallist Johannes Strolz and Atle Lie McGrath went out of the race after straddling gates as three of the first nine skiers failed to finish.

Noël won on home snow in Val d’Isère last year.

The US now has one slalom skier starting in the top 30 after years of none. Luke Winters showed last season that he could compete with the best. Unfortunately, like US star Paula Moltzan, he started his 2022-23 campaign with a did not finish (DNF). 

Only two racers after Winters, Canadian Erik Read started his SL season, the only other North American starting in the top 30. Read crossed in 17th place and barely qualified for the second run in 30th. He was 2.17 behind Kristoffersen and will run first on the second run. 

Analysis of top 3 Ginnis and Read and top 30 results from the first run

The Associated Press contributed to this report.