Dominik Paris Secures Thrilling 22nd Victory at Val Gardena/Gröden

Saslong Val Gardena/Gröden podium GEPA pictures/Thomas Bachun

Today belongs to Italy. On home soil, the big man Dominik Paris won his first World Cup since March 2022. The winner of 22 career World Cups is the toast of Val Gardena/Gröden. Paris, a highly respected speed skiing rocket, surprises today as he failed to achieve a single downhill podium last season. However, today, he is the best in the world! He skied with determination from the start to the finish first but used high-speed sectors three and the final sector six to secure a dominant (-0.44) victory.

The 34-year-old Paris punched the air and smiled broadly after crossing the finish line faster than two-time defending season downhill champion Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. He then waited nervously on the leader’s throne until the favorites had finished.

Paris’s victory broke an undesirable streak for Italy. The last Italian to win a downhill In Val Gardena/Gröden was Kristian Ghedina in 2001.

“It means a lot – I’m always in trouble here on this course,” Paris said after the emotional victory on home snow. “I only have one good result here, but the rest of the time, it’s always been with mistakes.” 

Kilde and Bennett join the podium party

He is joined on the podium by Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde 2nd (+0.44) and Stifel US Ski Team’s reemerging star Bryce Bennett 3rd (+0.60).

After Friday’s super-G performance, Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde needed redemption. When he crossed the finish, it had to be a relief to see the green light indicating he had the lead. He held that lead for six racers before Paris delivered a home-country victory.

“You see, Dominik is now back where he belongs,” Kilde said. “He’s a great skier, and of course, he’s been struggling here for some years, but when you ski the way he executed today, it’s fun to see, and it’s really fun for Italians to have a home victory.”

It has been an exciting series for Bennett. The Thursday winner adds a third Saslong podium to his resume. In the finish, Bennett openly displayed his excitement and, as hoped, continued his tremendous momentum. Only (+0.07) behind Bennett is the Canadian number one, James “Jack” Crawford. He also yelled excitedly when he finished among the top three, but by the end of the race, Crawford slipped off the podium into 5th (+0.67).

After the race, Bennett said, “Today I felt better than Thursday. I have never been in a position where I skied well in a race and then had another opportunity the same week.”

True to form, the Saslong continued to show favor to the Stifel US Ski Team. Jared Goldberg completes a three-race solid series in 11th place (+1.15). Also, His teammate, Olympic super-G medalist Ryan Cochran Siegle, delivered his second competitive downhill of the series, finishing 13th (+1.27). Joining them among the top 30 was USA’s Kyle Negomir; although he finished with a dramatic finish area crash, he ended the day 30th (+2.07), earning a single point.

Ski racing can be a cruel mistress. Today, superstars Switzerlands Marco Odermatt and Austrian Vincent Kriechmayr did not have the speed expected from the pair. Odermatt finished well off the pace in 7th (+0.92), and Kriechmayr, Friday’s super-G winner, continues to struggle in downhill, finishing 14th (+1.31). Also notable is that Austria ends the day with only two racers, Marco Schwarz, 9th, and Kriechmayr, 14th, among the top 15.

Notably, on Thursday, the time differential among the podium was (0.05), and during the super-G times, it was even tighter, delivering a (0.03) spread. However, today, the time difference was (0.60). These time spreads show the challenge the extra 30 seconds puts into the racer’s legs, magnifying all the mistakes made throughout the course.

Another stark contrast comparing today’s race to the other two on the Saslong is only four racers with bibs above 30 skied into the top 30. The fastest was bib 42, Switzerland’s Franjo Von Allmen 12th (+1.22). The last to do so was Frenchman Nils Alphand, bib 56, who finished in 15th place (+1.41). A margin of (2.07) separated the top 30.

Top 30 results and Analysis of the fastest three and other North Americans among the top 30

Analysis of the fastest three and other North Americans among the top 30