Odermatt and Aamodt Kilde, Soldeu, Andorra: GEPA pictures
Odermatt Pushes Back on Kilde’s Call for Slower Downhills, While Austrians Wager on Milk
The World Cup season opened in Sölden with Marco Odermatt back on top — and already stirring debate. From downhill safety to a lighthearted Austrian milk bet, the first weekend of winter delivered plenty to talk about.
Odermatt and Aamodt Kilde Disagree on Speed Limits
While Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt and Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde have long shared a close friendship, they don’t agree on how fast is too fast.
After his heavy crash at the Lauberhorn during the 2024 season, Aamodt Kilde urged the FIS to consider measures to slow down downhill racing for safety. But Odermatt told reporters in Sölden he sees it differently.
“I can’t understand this demand because, in elite sports, the goal is simply to always get faster,” he said.
It was a clear statement from the defending overall champion — one that reignited the long-running discussion about speed and risk in modern ski racing.
Girardelli Honors Odermatt’s Milestone
Odermatt’s Sölden victory brought his career World Cup total to 46 wins, tying him with Luxembourg legend Marc Girardelli for fifth on the all-time list. Girardelli, who captured five overall titles between 1985 and 1993, called the milestone “a tremendous honor.”
“For me, it’s an honor to be on the same level as such an exceptional athlete,” Girardelli told Blick, adding that he’s proud to be “one of the last to be overtaken” by the Swiss star.
All-Time World Cup Winners
Odermatt and Girardelli now share fifth place on the men’s all-time winners list:
- Ingemar Stenmark (SWE) – 86 wins
- Marcel Hirscher (NED) – 67 wins
- Hermann Maier (AUT) – 54 wins
- Alberto Tomba (ITA) – 50 wins
- Marc Girardelli (LUX) / Marco Odermatt (SUI) – 46 wins
A Minor Fashion Dispute
Girardelli also shared a lighthearted critique of Odermatt’s modern image, saying he noticed something unusual while watching TV.
“Marco is wearing a pair of glasses in an ad that, in my opinion, don’t suit him,” Girardelli joked. “I told him on WhatsApp that those glasses remind me of a grandfather.”
Austrian Team’s Bizarre Milk Bet
Meanwhile, Blick also reported a lighter moment from the Austrian team: two ÖSV athletes made a “milk bet” before the Sölden race weekend. Details were limited, but the wager reportedly revolved around pre-race nutrition and sparked laughter inside the team hotel.
Information sourced from Blick.ch (Marcel W. Perren and Mathias Germann)
About the Author: SR Staff Report
