Alpine Skiing & Biathlon 2023/24 Season

First topic message reminder :

Women’s Giant Slalom – Sölden: 28 Oct 23. Well, first a bit of rather surprising news – Lucas Braathen has had enough; very disenchanted with the Norwegian authorities and he’s announced his retirement! I missed run 1 of the Women’s GS – Federica Brignone was fastest, ahead of Sara Hector [+0.50] with Petra Vlhova 3rd, +0.63 – then Lara Gut-Behrami [+0.73], Mikaela Shiffrin [+0.75] and Franzi Gritsch [+1.19].
Run 2: Clara Direz [FRA] the first away, amazingly the only French skier in this competition today. Melanie Meillard [SUI] is fractionally faster; Paula Moltzan [USA] better still. Zrinka Ljutic [CRO] into 2nd despite a small stumble out of the start; with 10 away Moltzan still leads, ahead of Ljutic and Meillard, and the ruts are starting to form. Sofia Goggia [ITA] had to pull up on run 1 as there was a marshal on the track, and walked back up to re-start – she’s into 3rd place despite that extra effort. Maryna Gasienica-Daniel [POL] is away just before the half way break – she’s into 2nd; Paula Moltzan has now made up 12 places! Stephanie Brunner [AUT] first away after the break – it’s certainly getting rough but she’s into joint 3rd with Ljutic; Ana Bucik next and she has more than 0.80 in hand – it’s slipping away but she’s into a tie for first place with Moltzan. Alice Robinson [NZL] has made a great start – building on her advantage to get to 0.50 ahead at inter 2; she takes the lead by 0.19! It seems the FIS have banned fluoride in the preparation of the ski base – that caught out Ragnhild Mowinckel who has been DQd; I suspect it will be a tricky time for the tech teams as they try to check everything to make sure there is no contamination. Mina Fuerst Holtmann [NOR] has had a great final section and she leads by an impressive 0.48 – some good news for the team. Valerie Grenier [CAN] has built on her advantage to inter 3, and she takes the lead by 0.55 – impressive stuff! Marta Bassino has gained a lot from inter 2 to 3; she’s lost a bit later but that was enough to take the lead by 0.26! Franzi Gritsch into 5th; Mikaela Shiffrin next and she’s lost a little to inter 2 – just red by 3 and she’s into 2nd, +0.21 after a fast final sector. Lara Gut-Behrami has 0.52 in hand as she starts – she’s 0,81 ahead at inter 2, very fast through the speed gun and she leads by a massive 1.19 – what a phenomenal final sector! Petra Vlhova just red at inter 1 and into 2nd, +0.14; Shiffrin off the podium. Sara Hector also red at inter 1 and she’s losing a lot of time – into 3rd but +1.10. just Federica Brignone to come – 0.73 in hand as she starts; till green at 2 but she’s lost time and it’s just red at 3 – she’s over the line in 2nd, just 0.02 off the pace. What a race! Lara Gut-Behrami [SUI] takes the opening race of the season, ahead of Federica Brignone [ITA] and Petra Vlhova [SVK]. Hector in 4th ahead of Bassino and Shiffrin.
Sadly on the Sunday the weather won and the Men’s GS was cancelled.

Little offseason news: Netherlands are hoping to have a skier at the Worlds next year (and perhaps the next Olympics). Gentleman switching to his mother's nation, having had a few decent showings representing Austria previously, by the name of Marcel Hirscher...