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rsederquist@vaildaily.com
Edwards skier River Radamus led the U.S. at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season opener on Sunday in Soelden, Austria.
The 26-year-old Olympian placed 11th with a two-run time of 2 minutes, 11.12 seconds, finishing less than a second off the Norwegian-only podium. Vikings Alexander Steen Olsen (2:09.5), Henrick Kristoffersen (2:10.15) and Atle Lie McGrath (2:10.16) swept the top three positions as pre-race favorite Marco Odermatt skied out halfway through his first run.
Odermatt weighted the wrong ski and lost his edge partway down the steepest section of the 370-meter Rettenbach course.
“I took the risk today that this could happen,” Odermatt told FIS media. “Till there I really felt perfect, so that’s what I take with me and not the mistake.”
After winning the first nine World Cup giant slaloms last season — and 21 of the last 29 — Odermatt has failed to finish his past two races.
“I felt good in the start, I felt good in the first gate and then I knew I needed to take this chance for a spectacular run and to risk a lot. I really wanted to ski very fast in the first run,” Odermatt said. “I did till the mistake, but then when you do mistakes in the steepest part you have no chance to recover.”
Radamus had mixed feelings about how he managed the springlike conditions.
“That’s something I’ve still been figuring out how to ski and ski fast, but it’s the same for everybody,” said Radamus, who was ninth after the first run. “I felt good about my execution overall and second run I really tried to redline more. Had a couple more mistakes, but I really do feel good about how I’m skiing right now, so I need to keep pushing the limits, sending as hard as I can, and I know the runs will connect.”
The event featured the returns of 2023 slalom season winner Lucas Braathen — who retired last October — and Marcel Hirscher, who collected eight-straight overall crystal globes before leaving the sport in 2019.
“I was able to ski with my heart today and when you let me go I can achieve great things,” Braathen told FIS after finishing fourth. The Norwegian-born tech specialist is now representing Brazil, where his mother was born. After flying into the lead by 0.83 seconds on his second run, Braathen unclipped from his skis and treated the crowd to a brief, traditional South American samba jig.
“Ten seconds ahead of starting on the first run, for the first time in my life, I smiled before I dropped in. I’ve never, ever done that before,” the 24-year-old continued. “And that’s when I realized I’m back where I belong.”
Hirscher finished 23rd in his first race back in 2,051 days.
“The last five years I was laying on the couch on Soelden weekend,” the 35-year-old told FIS. “I mean, it’s not too bad to be on the couch and to see the race on TV, but it is way better to be here and, yeah, the second run was maybe one of the most emotional results or moments in my whole career.”
“I think it’s really good for the sport,” Radamus said of the legends’ returns. “I’ll admit, Hirscher scoring points surprised me, but you can never count out a legend like that. Braathen obviously hasn’t missed a step and he’ll prove to be a challenger all season. I’m really excited to continue to battle with those guys.”
Having trained with the U.S. slalom athletes this summer, Radamus is looking forward to heading north to Levi, Finland, for the next World Cup event, a slalom on Nov. 17.
“Our boys have been skiing really fast, so I’m excited to mix it up with them and see how it goes up in Levi,” he said.
On the American front, Tommy Ford (2:11.60) placed 21st and Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club product Cooper Puckett was 55th after the first run and didn’t qualify for a second in his World Cup debut.
“The race itself was OK; I just got a little bit low, but in terms of the experience, it’s been awesome,” said Puckett, who is the nephew of five-time Olympian Casey Puckett and son of fellow Olympian Chris Puckett. “I mean, I think I’ve been really close to starting World Cups for three years now. It definitely felt natural being here and I just want to keep going and giving myself opportunities.”
Radamus was thrilled for Puckett, whom he said he’s taken under his wing.
“He’s been training with us all prep period, skiing really fast and he’s got the right mentality,” Radamus said. “So I’m excited to see him dual out a few more this season.”
Aspen’s Bridger Gile started the race, but did not finish his first run.
Chatter echoes down the halls of Aspen High School with no cell phones in sight.
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