Manuel Feller Triumphs in Wengen Slalom with Amazing Comeback

Manuel Feller in Wengen, GEPA pictures/Mario Buehner-Weinrauch

Austria’s Manuel Feller ended last season discouraged and with little enthusiasm. Now, he is on top of the world. Feller delivered the 2nd fastest final run to win his first Wengen slalom. He rose from third to first on the second run. Feller has now won three of the four slaloms this season. It is his fifth slalom victory of his career. Wengen is a slope known to be different at every turn, but he skied it masterfully and earned his victory.

“It just feels amazing,” Feller said. “I’m in the shape of my life, the material is the best I’ve ever had.” He then thanked Atomic for the materials.

The two fastest skiers from the first run had not yet skied when Feller crossed the finish. The first to threaten his victory was Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen. Today Kristofferson skied the best he has all season and delivered the fifth-fastest second run but fell (+0.21) short of taking the lead. Kristoffersen earned his first podium of the season.

“Two-tenths is not a lot, but this brings confidence for sure,” Kristoffersen said. “I can’t really be free and ski how I want to because the confidence is not 100 percent there. But it’s becoming better and better.” 

The final skier was first-run leader Atle Lie McGrath. He started the finale with a (-0.52) advantage over Feller but ended the race (+0.10) behind in 2nd place. The two also finished first and second in the last slalom race in Adelboden. McGrath held his lead until the final timing sector but lost his speed to the finish and was unable to win the race. It is likely McGrath’s day is coming soon. There are two more classic slaloms in the next ten days, and he will likely win one.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been that terrified in my life, but I did a good job,” McGrath said.

“It’s a good fight and he’s a good friend of mine, and I’m in his Norwegian fan club as well,” McGrath said. “Maybe he can give me some hundredths on my side next time.”

“It’s his (McGrath’s) fault that I am winning because I see how hard he is going in, especially the steep parts, so I thought after the first run I need to go a little bit more all-in if I want to catch these guys,” Feller said.

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Second run gains

The second run of a slalom or giant slalom race is the most engaging format in ski racing. Thirty qualify for the second run; the finish order is reversed: the 30th racer runs first, and the fastest racers run last. This is a format that sees many lead changes. However, usually, an athlete takes the lead and sees off a significant number of competitors until they relinquish the lead. Today, the lead changed more regularly than usual. It made for a dramatic second run.

The situation changed when the 19th skier, France’s Clement Noel, finished his race. The ten-time World Cup slalom winner crossed with a (-0.54) lead over Switzerland’s Loic Meillard and held the lead for the next eight racers. He ended the day 4th (+0,44). It was the third fastest skier of the morning, discipline leader and today’s winner who finally displaced the French athlete. During the afternoon, Noel moved up eight positions by delivering the fastest second run.

However, like every race, there were second-run winners and losers. The big winners of the afternoon included Switzerland’s Loic Meillard, who gained ten positions to finish 5th. The athletes who improved their position the second most were Noel and Stifle US Ski Team’s Ben Ritchie; both men gained eight positions.

USA’s Benjamin Ritchie

The 23-year-old Ritchie was the only North American to qualify for the afternoon run. He is a talented slalom skier who, last week in Adelboden, qualified for the first time in the 2023-24 season. Ritchie was the third skier to attack the second-run course. He built a big lead before making a costly mistake. However, the talented slalom skier crossed the finish line with the lead. Ritchie held the lead for the following three racers and finished the day in 20th (+2.21), tying his career-best World Cup result. It is excellent to see Ritchie returning to form.

After 20 racers did not finish the first run, only one of the thirty didn’t during the second.

The next slalom World Cup is in Kitzbühel on Sunday, January 21st.

In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Manuel Feller conquered the challenging Wengen slope, securing his first Wengen slalom win. The dramatic second run witnessed unexpected lead changes, with Feller emerging as the ultimate victor. As the ski racing world anticipates the upcoming Kitzbühel event, Feller’s stellar performance adds excitement to the season, setting the stage for more thrilling competitions ahead.

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