“How is it even possible to be so sexy?” Nick Fellows asked in a fan question to Manuel Feller during FIS Talk 2024. And I have a slight suspicion that the person who sent that question might have been my mom…
That playful exchange says a lot about Feller’s personality.
The highly charismatic and fan-favorite Austrian recently sparked a wave of excitement across Austria when he fulfilled his long-time dream by winning the slalom in Kitzbühel. Holding the Golden Gams in his hands and tears streaming down his face, he created an unforgettable moment for himself, his team and his massive fan base.
Focus on One Discipline
Ahead of the Olympic Games in Italy, the father of two said goodbye to giant slalom in front of his home crowd in Schladming. Now, he plans to focus exclusively on his stronger discipline — slalom.
“I’d like to thank all the fans who came to watch my final giant slalom run. Even though it was one of my worst performances, it is what it is, and now I can leave GS behind,” Manuel Feller told us at the finish after placing 49th in the night race.
He leaves the discipline after 89 World Cup starts, recording seven podium finishes.
Built for Slalom
When it comes to slalom, however, Feller remains one of the sport’s leading figures. He won the small crystal globe in the 2023-24 season, receiving it at the season finale in Saalbach in 2024 — and famously misplacing it for a few hours during the celebrations.
Many compare Feller’s slalom style to his unique personality, a style shaped by his love for reggae rhythms, which he also enjoys as a singer. In the most technical discipline, he has recorded 127 World Cup starts, two Olympic appearances and five World Championship appearances. His silver medal at the 2017 World Championships in St. Moritz and 21 podium finishes — including seven World Cup victories — underscore his slalom résumé.
According to Feller, his biggest dream was always Kitzbühel. And when he achieved it, he celebrated — in his own way.
“It was just a small party with my fan club. I wanted to give my fans some nice moments in return for their support. It was great — but I was in bed around 10 p.m., so it wasn’t too horrible,” Feller said with a laugh.
Still, his plan for the final slalom before the Olympics remained simple. “Like always — I’ll do the best I can. The cards are dealt again: different race, different slope,” he said ahead of the night slalom in Schladming, where he finished 10th.
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Fan Club Feller (Not Only) Norway
Let’s go back to January 2023. During the bib draw in Schladming, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen unzipped his then-Norwegian team jacket to reveal a T-shirt reading “Fan Club Feller Norwegen.” Later in the race, Atle Lie McGrath sat in the leader’s chair wearing the same shirt — and a new phenomenon took off.
The recognizable logo quickly caught the attention of spectators around the world — and fellow racers.
“This year, we welcomed a new member who received a golden FCFN T-shirt with number 99 on the back — Marco Schwarz,” Øyvind Setnes said with a laugh, describing the initiative he founded.
“FCFN started out with two guys in love with sport. Feller caught our attention with his all-in mentality. We went from sitting in front of the TV to becoming a fan club where even World Cup stars have joined the team,” Setnes added.
A similar scene unfolded again this year. At the bib draw, McGrath once again sang to the crowd in the iconic golden shirt. Later, during the race, he welcomed Feller to the leader’s chair wearing it.
This time, however, the stands featured even more new members. Fans took things to the next level — some without shirts, showing off only stickers placed in creative spots on their bodies.
And this is just one of Manuel Feller’s many fan clubs.
Family and Friends Always by His Side
From a distance, Manuel Feller’s father waved proudly, dressed in his son’s merchandise. At skiracing.club, we met the rest of the Austrian fan club posing with the Kitzbühel trophy, dressed in Feller’s merchandise — which they also sell there.
This group is impossible to miss at races, not only because of its noise and energy but also because of handmade Rastafarian-style headbands with the name MANU displayed across the front.
“What I love about our fan club is that it’s a mix of completely different people — different ages, different professions — but all united by their love for racing and having fun,” said Florian Uibner, Feller’s cousin.
“I think Manu really enjoys this group of family and friends too, and thanks to it, we’re able to create many beautiful memories together. Sometimes we even have a drink with the Norwegian fan club,” Uibner added. “It’s fun to support the same guy.”
Team Support and a “Really Nice Guy”
On social media, Marco Schwarz quickly showed off his new fan club T-shirt, wearing it to a team dinner. At the finish area, he also spoke about his relationship with Feller.
“Manuel Feller has been one of my favorite teammates for about 10 years now. We have a really great relationship, we always have a lot of fun when we travel together, and we constantly support each other. I’m truly happy that I can call him my friend,” Schwarz said.
“I really like Manuel Feller — he’s a nice guy,” Clément Noël told us at the slalom finish. “He’s a bit different from what you’d expect from a typical Austrian racer, and that’s amazing. I love who he is, I love how he skis, and I really enjoyed the way he won in Kitzbühel. I congratulated him — he truly deserved that victory. And I’m looking forward to more parties with him.”
Noël, the reigning Olympic champion from Beijing, will stand among Feller’s biggest challengers in the Olympic slalom on Feb. 16 in Bormio. But Feller has already left his mark on the Stelvio. On Feb. 9, he teamed up with Vincent Kriechmayr to claim silver in the team combined, proving once again that the spotlight suits him. And if he delivers again in slalom, he might not just silence his rivals — he could add another member to his ever-growing fan club.
About the Author: Darka Sefcik Starnova
