AJ Ginnis on the L’Eclipse in Courchevel: GEPA

COURCHEVEL, France – Austrian Manuel Feller attacked the opening course from the start gate through the finish and will take the lead into the final run of the World Championships. 

Former US Ski Team member Greek, AJ Ginnis continues to display his world-class speed. After years of battling injury and rejection, Ginnis earned a podium in the last World Cup before the championships in Chamonix. Today he started 24th and sits tied for second (+0.13). Notably, after recently taking time off from skiing to recover from appendix surgery, the flamboyant Norwegian Lucas Braathen (+0.13) is tied with Ginnis.

Feller is chasing his country’s first gold medal of the championships. Austria has won at least one event at every world championship since 1987.

Ginnis

Ginnis was a member of the men’s World Cup slalom program that the US Ski Team lost faith in and then eliminated. He then spent time skiing for Dartmouth before he formed his independent Team Greece. 

Germany’s Linus Strasser is fourth (+.014), and Norwegian Sebastian Foss-Solevaag sits fifth (+.35). Four different ski manufacturers are among the top five. 

The first three competitors to ski were from the powerful Swiss team, but Ramon Zenhaeusern is their best, ranked 12th (++0.81). All three were medal contenders, but bib one, Loic Meillard, skied off-course at the top and bib two, Daniel Yule struggled to find his speed. 

Great day for deciding a world champion

The conditions rewarded great skiing; after the first 15 racers, 11 skiers were within a second. Opportunities to ski fast existed throughout the field. 

The weather in Courchevel has been perfect and Sunday was no different. The watered L’Eclipse course was still very icy but it was no issue for the best slalom skiers in the world. It was a perfect morning for deciding a slalom world champion. 

It is an unusually tight race. (+0.71) covers the top ten and (+1.90) covers the top 30. 

Unfortunately, none of the Stifel US Ski Team or Alpine Canada Alpin members could finish in the top 30. However, the top 60 qualify to ski a second run because it is the World Championships. 

Sunday’s race is the last event of the world championships.

First run top 30 results and Analysis of the fastest three and North Americans.

Analysis of the fastest three and North Americans

The Associated Press and USST contributed to this report.