Featured Image: KITZBUEHEL,AUSTRIA,21.JAN.24 – ALPINE SKIING – FIS World Cup, Hahnenkamm-race, slalom, men. Image shows Kristoffer Jakobsen (SWE). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Mathias Mandl

Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen set the pace for the day in the Kitzbühel Hahnenkamm-Rennen, igniting out of the start first. Kristoffersen was on fire and was working the ski tip to tail, but the racer encountered a bobble on a crucial rhythm change, which cost him time. He came through with the time of 52.60.

Kristoffersen quickly found out that his time could not hold up to the giants that kicked out of the start gate directly after him. Swiss athlete Daniel Yule wore bib-3 but was second on the hill because his teammate, Ramon Zenhaeusern, did not start. Yule pushed out of the start and carried momentum through the different rhythmical sections. He finished with a blistering time, -2.46 ahead of Kristoffersen. 

Yule held off his close competitors, including Manuel Feller, Dave Ryding, and Clement Noel. He sat in the leader’s chair until bib-20 Kristoffer Jakobsen of Sweden came through the finish line -0.05 ahead. 

Kristoffer Jakobsen has had a challenging beginning of the 2024 season in slalom, only finishing one out of the four slaloms. The only finish he has been able to achieve this season was in Gurgl, earning himself an 11th-place result. This first run has set him up for the possibility of his first World Cup victory. 

Austrian Manuel Feller, who is the current leader of the slalom World Cup standings, with three victories this season, was sending it from the start through the finish. He got pushed into the back seat in some sections, but kept his momentum going throughout the course. He finished the first run +0.23 behind Jakobsen. 

Dave Ryding, who has found a lot of success in the Kitzbühel World Cup, with two wins on the hill, had a solid first run. He displayed composure even through the rhythm and terrain changes. However, he is going into the second run +1.23 behind the leader. He is currently tied with his teammate, Billy Major. 

Coming off of two 2nd-place results in the Adelboden and Wengen slaloms, Atle Lie Mcgrath was gunning it for the chance at a victory. Unfortunately, the Norwegian  leaned in and rotated, which kicked him out of the course, which took out a major contender for the second run.

Kristoffersen, who has won twice on Kitzbühel, will begin the second run in the first position. With a newly prepared course, he will aim to make his way up the leaderboard.

North Americans

Erik Read of Alpine Canada Alpin was the first North American to push out of the start, but unfortunately, Read straddled only a few gates into the course. Stifel US Ski Team athlete Benjamin Richie and Alpine Canada’s Liam Wallace and Justin Alkier encountered issues in the same spot and could not finish their runs. 

River Radamus pushed further down the course but bobbled and got thrown out of the gates close to the final section. He did not finish the first run. It was a challenging course for many competitors, with 32 racers not finishing the first run.

Jett Seymour had a little bobble at the top of the course, but he picked up his rhythm and pushed it to the end. Although he fought to land himself in the top 30, he was sadly unable to qualify for the second run and finished in 31st position.

Luke Winters was skiing a little tentative through the different sections that were critical for the athlete to push their line. It cost him time throughout the course and put him out of qualifying position for the second run.

Unfortunately, the second run of the Kitzbühel World Cup will not feature any North American competitors.

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