Matts Olsson Celebrates Career First Win In Alta Badia Parallel GS

For what FIS Claim is the third time in the history of alpine skiing, a parallel giant slalom was held in Alta Badia, on the bottom part of the Gran Risa slope. The exciting format saw 32 athletes competing head-to-head for some important World Cup points.

If fact parallel GS was a staple of the US World Pro Skiing tour - they even ran parallel DH events. However we diagress...

Last year, the French skier Cyprien Sarrazin created a surprise by claiming a career-first World Cup win, while the year before, speed skier Kjetil Jansrud dominated the field in the PGS on the Gran Risa.

This year, the giant slalom specialist shone on the Gran Risa, as the Swedish giant slalom whiz Matts Olsson took the win. It was his first World Cup win in career, after he scored two podiums last season – 2nd in Kranjska Gora and 3rd in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The 30 years old athlete beat Marcel Hirscher in the semi-final, before finishing only +0.03 ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen in the final. Born in Karlstad, Olsson made his World Cup debut at age 19 in October 2007. He won a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships in the team event, and finished 18th in the giant slalom, and 24th in the super-G.

His two last contenders were able to assure podium placements as well, the fifth of the season for both of them. Henrik Kristoffersen took another 2nd place, after reaching that position 4 times already this season. The Norwegian was satisfied about his performance of the day, especially as his best position in an individual parallel event was a 9th place so far.

Marcel Hirscher won two City Events already (Moscow 2013 and Stockholm 2016), but had never reached the podium in the parallel giant slalom. Even though he’d like the course a little more turny, he likes the parallel format and is happy to reach another podium and score important points for the World Cup standings.

This event concludes the extended racing week-end in South Tyrol. The men’s circuit will now move to Madonna di Campiglio, where a night slalom awaits the athletes on Friday evening, 22nd of December.