VAL D’ISÈRE, France — A dramatic slalom race unfolded at the men’s World Cup on Sunday, where world champion Henrik Kristoffersen emerged victorious for the first time since February, defeating up-and-coming French skier Steven Amiez, whose aspirations for victory were dashed after he faltered on the challenging Face de Bellevarde course.
Kristoffersen, demonstrating his elite skiing skills, completed the course with two flawless runs, finishing 0.52 seconds ahead of his Norwegian teammate Atle Lie McGrath. Loic Meillard of Switzerland trailed Kristoffersen by 0.89 seconds, making it evident just how competitive and closely fought the race had been.
It was Kristoffersen’s third win at Val d’Isère, with previous victories dating back to 2015 and 2016. He expressed joy at his performance and the return to the top spot after almost two years without winning a World Cup race. "I had less worries (then), I was less nervous. Now everyone expects me to do good all the time because I’ve been almost 90 times on the podium," Kristoffersen remarked humorously, acknowledging the pressure he faces as a top competitor.
While Kristoffersen celebrated his win, it was Amiez who initially grabbed the headlines by leading the first segment of the race, beating Kristoffersen’s time by 0.32 seconds. Eventual disappointment followed, though, when Amiez experienced a misstep during his second run. "First of all, sorry for Steven. He’s skiing really good and he will get there. So to the French public: ‘don’t worry, he will get there,’" Kristoffersen said, expressing his support for the young skier.
Amiez, 26, had entered the competition with high hopes, seeking his first career World Cup win. Despite his strong showing and previous best placement (fourth) achieved just last month in Austria, he left the course without achieving the podium he so desperately wanted. The local crowd had cheered him on, hoping for a triumphant conclusion, but instead, they were left with the sorrow of witnessing his fall.
The impact of luck was also felt during the race, with the absence of Olympic champion Clement Noel, who withdrew after suffering an ankle injury the previous day during the giant slalom. Noel’s injury had cast a shadow over the competition, as he had performed strongly previously and was expected to contend for the title at Val d'Isère.
Another noteworthy competitor was reigning slalom World Cup champion Manuel Feller, who managed to clinch joint-fourth place alongside Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, both 0.95 seconds off the pace. Feller had struggled with consistency this season, failing to finish the previous four races but was relieved to cross the finish line this time.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen shocked many by making significant improvements on his second run, launching himself from 26th place to vie for the win during the latter half of the race. Meanwhile, Marco Schwarz made his long-awaited return to competitive skiing, after nearly a year-long absence due to injury but was unable to finish due to straddling a gate on the course.
The Val d’Isère slalom highlighted the high-stakes atmosphere of competitive skiing, where every millisecond counts and the thrill of victory can shift abruptly. Kristoffersen, with his extensive experience and calm demeanor, was able to capitalize on the challenges faced by his competitors. He now sits atop the World Cup overall standings, leading McGrath by 18 points and holding significant advantages over other contenders.
The next slalom race will take place at Alta Badia within eight days, where fans eagerly await to see if Amiez can bounce back from his disappointing performance. There’s no doubt he will carry the support of the home crowd, hoping to finally translate his promise and determination from the slopes to the highest podium. For Kristoffersen, the coming races present the challenge of maintaining his newfound momentum, as the competition intensifies with the skiing season progressing.
