Tumler Wins First World Cup Race At Beaver Creek Giant Slalom

Thomas Tumler won his first Audi FIS World Cup race after beating all-comers in the giant slalom at Beaver Creek on Sunday, as Marco Odermatt's early-season woes continued.

The conditions could not be more perfect on Sunday as the weekend turned to tech for the first Stifel Birds of Prey giant slalom since 2019. The sun was shining bright overhead, and the surface on the giant slalom course was unmatched. The international crowd packed the stands awaiting the event to unfold.

Thomas Tumler of Switzerland claimed his first World Cup win with Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen in second place - his first podium since his return to the sport. Third place was Slovenia’s Zan Kranjec.

Tumler put down a time of 1:16.24 in his first outing of the day to lead the way at the end of a first run for the first time in his career, and capitalised with a clean second run (1:11.36) to secure a maiden World Cup title on the same track he had previously registered his first World Cup podium.

"I have no words at the moment," Tumler told FIS.

"Last year when the new World Cup calendar was out and I saw Beaver Creek, I made the joke to my wife, I said 'I will win there'.

"Now I am here. It's like a dream and I need some minutes to react to the day today."

Tumler says he was initially not sure if his second run had been enough to secure the victory as he could not find the clock to confirm the result.

"My feeling was still not very good in the second run and then I was in a rush to check the time," he said. "At first I couldn't find it and I was also listening to the reaction of the crowd and it was a special feeling.

"I finally found the time and I saw green and it was really amazing.

"The first podium is always special but the first victory is something like the best feeling.

"I changed my setup for the second run because it was way faster than the first one and I think it worked really well."

Victory for Tumler completed a clean sweep for Switzerland at Beaver Creek, after Justin Murisier won the downhill on Friday and Odermatt won the super-G on Saturday.

However, Odermatt's DNF in Sunday's giant slalom overshadowed his success from the previous day. The 27-year-old finished eighth after the first run, and his skis had barely touched the snow in his second run before a bad line resulted in him abandoning his race altogether.

The bizarre mistake followed his DNF in the first giant slalom race in Sölden in October, which means that despite giant slalom being his strongest event - in which he won nine out of ten races last season to comfortably win the Crystal Globe - he has no points in this season's giant slalom overall standings.

‘What a moment to break out a dance’

Those standings are currently being led by Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA), who came second behind Tumler on Sunday to make history as the first Brazilian athlete to stand on a World Cup podium. It was also the first podium place of his comeback season after missing out at Sölden by less than three-tenths of a second.

As he did in Sölden, Pinheiro Braathen marked his Beaver Creek run with a samba jig in the finish area, celebrating returning to the Alpine fold as a Brazilian athlete, having previously having competed for Norway.

"What a moment to break out a dance in front of all these amazing fans here today," Pinheiro Braathen said.

"I came onto the circuit to make a difference. I came here to be myself and hopefully be an inspiration to the outcasts out there, to the people that feel a bit different, to follow their own path.

"I just think it's such a privilege to be able to be the first one to bring the Brazilian flag, something that I'm so proud of, up to a winter sport World Cup podium.

"Words cannot really describe the emotions that I'm feeling right now. I'm just beyond grateful for everyone that he supported me up until this day."

Zan Kranjec (SLO) came in third on the Birds of Prey track, just ahead of Norway pair Atle Lie McGrath and Henrik Kristoffersen, who took fourth and fifth place.

Kranjec said afterwards that even he had doubts that the course would suit him.

"I felt good on the skis, I skied well and attacked," Kranjec said.

"I know there were a few small details I could do better but otherwise I'm really happy because I was worried that I wouldn't not have enough speed on this hill.

"That's why I'm even more happy that I showed that I can ski fast also here in the US, in Beaver Creek. It was a good day for me."

It was not a good day for veterans Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) and Cyprien Sarrazin (FRA), who picked up DNFs on their first and second runs respectively.

As for the Swiss trio who swept Beaver Creek over the course of the weekend, Tumler said they would ensure they find the time to mark the occasion.

"We are in a little bit of a hurry for the flight today in the evening but I think we will find a good bar or some alcohol to celebrate this," he said.

For the Americans, River Radamus snagged his second top 10 of the weekend with a seventh in the Stifel Birds of Prey giant slalom.

“First run I felt really good about my skiing and that’s a really good indication I was playing it too safe,” said Radamus. “Second run I knew I had to throttle down, made a couple more mistakes but I know I pushed harder.”

On the first run the sun was in and out as the course, proving to be a challenge for the allotment of racers. Running at 1 minute and 20 seconds, it was a long course and racers fatigued as they crossed the finish line. Radamus skied a strong race, but did not push enough to find the top 10 first run, finishing 14th. Global Racing and U.S. skier Patrick Kenney ran bib 42 and skied a near-perfect run to shoot himself up to the 21st position.

“I mean the snow does not get better than what he had today,” said Radamus. “The course conditions have been phenomenal so that means everyone is taking it to the next level.”

On the second run, Radamus had a plan and was ready to execute. While he was holding back a touch at the top of the run, he let it rip near the bottom, claiming the top position for a few racers. He was greeted by a roar of American fans, as he sat in the leaderboard chair. Radamus ultimately ended up seventh, jumping up seven spots from his first run.

“It was great to sit in the leader's chair for a little bit and give the home crowd something to root for,” said Radamus.

Thomas Tumler of Switzerland claimed his first World Cup win with Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen in second place - his first podium since his return to the sport. Third place was Slovenia’s Zan Kranjec.

Kenney unfortunately did not finish the second run. Isaiah Nelson skied solidly but did not find the top 30. Tommy Ford, Bridger Gile and Ryder Sarchett did not finish but are all ok.

Sunday’s giant slalom marked the end of the busy weekend for the Stifel Birds of Prey. The men’s tech and speed teams all head back to Europe as they prepare for the remainder of the alpine season. The speed team will head to Val Gardena, Italy, while the tech team will head to Val d’Isere, France.