Feller Captures First World Cup Title As Kranjska Gora Slalom Cancelled

Manuel Feller (AUT) is officially a World Cup slalom champion. And he didn’t even need to buckle up his ski boots. 

The 31-year-old Austrian clinched his first season title after FIS and Kranjska Gora race organizers were forced to cancel the penultimate slalom scheduled for Saturday due to torrential rain over a 24-hour period that destroyed the Podkoren race slope. FIS officials sought a potential replacement, but no organiser could be found considering the tight time constraints.

“It's a bit strange now, I would have preferred if we had decided it in the race. There is simply more emotion in the finish area. It's difficult to realize that right now. But it's probably deserved. Four wins, in the top five in every race. The lead over Straßer is also big, so I don't think there is any discussion," said Feller , somewhat frothily in his initial reaction.

For the 31-year-old Feller, who won the silver medal in slalom at the World Championships in St. Moritz in 2017, the slalom crystal ball is a highlight in the career and for Austria's men the first crystal ball since 2021, as Marco Schwarz in the slalom and Vincent Kriechmayr struck in the Super-G.

Men's head coach Marko Pfeifer on the success of his new Musetsrchüler: “It was a dream season for Manuel and he is a deserving ball winner with incredible consistency and mental strength. You have to take your hat off to his development. From a broken pilot with back problems to one of the most consistent slalom drivers at the moment, respect. He's an incredible guy and extremely important for skiing."

As a result of the sudden cancellation in Slovenia, and with only one slalom race remaining at the World Cup Finals in Saalbach on March 17, Feller’s 169-point advantage over nearest challenger Linus Strasser (GER) became insurmountable.

“It’s amazing, but at the moment it’s a little bit hard to recognize – everybody wanted it decided on the slope, but the advantage over Linus was pretty high,” Feller said. “But still in slalom, anything can happen. You can say the opportunity was taken from Linus, but you can also say that the emotions were taken from me.”

Having just returned from races in the United States, Feller was headed home along with his cousin on Wednesday afternoon, March 6. As they were getting into a car, he discovered the news. Caught by surprise, Feller and his cousin went to the supermarket to buy well-deserved beers to celebrate.

Feller won the season-opening slalom on home snow in Gurgl on Oct. 18 and never looked back. He was the mark of consistency in an unpredictable discipline that can often be fickle. Austria’s “Mr. Consistency” has finished inside the top five in all nine men's World Cup slalom events this season (1-5-1-1-4-5-4-1-5), including the win in Gurgl, as well as in Adelboden, Wengen and Palisades Tahoe.

The extroverted ski racer from Fieberbrunn in the Austrian Tyrol explained the hard work and steps taken to ascertain the consistency that he has displayed this season.

“The key has been already built up step-by-step over years,” Feller said. “We've been working on some things that have gotten better and better over the years. My stable upper body and of course routine was a big point over the years, and this season.

“And of course the material has been working amazing. Both my serviceman Richie (Weißenbacher) and also my company Atomic has done a really good job. I changed my skis beofre Gurgl and that was probably one of the biggest keys to this amazing success.”

Feller commended Strasser for a hard-fought battle, one that became tighter after the German finished third in Aspen and second in Palisades Tahoe over the previous two races.

“I want to thank Linus for the fight this season and also everyone who was cheering for me in both good and bad times over so many years,” Feller said. “Altogether, 169-points is a big lead and you can’t call it luck for me that the race got cancelled.”

Feller joins his injured teammate Marco Schwarz as a World Cup slalom champion, as Schwarz won his title in 2020-21. Feller also etches his name in the record book alongside other esteemed slalom title victors from his country – Marcel Hirscher (6), Benjamin Raich (2), Thomas Sykora (2), Reinfried Herbst (1), Rainer Schoenfelder (1), Thomas Stangassinger (1) and Alfred Matt (1).

Feller became emotional elaborating about what he is most satisfied with along the long journey to winning the crystal globe. He came close to a title, finishing second to Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) in 2021-22.

“I’m most proud that I didn’t give up over the years, looking back ten years ago when I had my first back injury. There was pain close to one a year, not getting better over a half of year and then just little steps,” Feller said.

“I want to thank myself for not giving up, always believing in myself, always continuing to push myself, always continuing to try getting better and better.

“I learned with every turn, I learned with every race, I learned with every year and finally routine was probably the key for this success,” he said.

Despite most likely finishing runner-up in the standings, Strasser enjoyed the best World Cup slalom season of his 10-year career. He charged to victories in Kitzbuehel and Schladming, while achieving four podiums, with a late surge at the recent U.S. races in Palisades Tahoe and Aspen.

Heading into the season finale, Strasser commands a 107-point advantage over Loic Meillard (SUI), who captured his first career slalom victory March 3rd in Aspen. The battle for the final position on the season-ending podium will also involve Beijing 2022 Olympic champion Clement Noel (FRA), currently fourth, and Timon Haugan (NOR) in fifth.

The men’s slalom skiers will have their last dance on Austrian snow in Saalbach on March 17. For Feller, it will simply be a victory lap.