Hirschbuhl, Slokar Take Parallel Slalom Wins In Lech-Zurs

All three podium finishers grabbed their career-first podium finishes led Slovenian Andreja Slokar in first, and Norway's Thea Louise Stjernesund and Kristin Lysdahl in second and third, respectively. Up next, the women will travel to Levi, Finland for a pair of slalom races on Nov. 21-21. Two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin, who has podiumed at the venue seven times and won four times, will look to find her way back to the top of the podium

One star shone above all, and that was the young Slovenian Andreja Slokar, who faced the Norwegian caterpillar Thea Louise Stjernesund in a very tight battle in the big final. The Slovenian skier showed great determination and concentration throughout the competition and kept her nerves until the last line crossed. The Slovenian athlete won the Parallel in Lech Zürs (AUT), defeating, one by one, every athlete she was up against and she conquers for her first time ever a World Cup victory.

The Norwegian team, gold medallists in the World Parallel Team, once again showed their great familiarity in parallel, with 2 out of 3 athletes starting in the final on the podium. Although they already have a world team medal around their necks, today they are taking their first individual World Cup podium.

There were too many mistakes and a few stumbles amongst the big stars such as world champions Liensberger and Bassino and Swiss superstar Lara Gut-Behrami. 

For the Americans Paula Moltzan, who grabbed her career-first World Cup podium last year at the same event, struggled to find her groove after the start gate malfunctioned and did not open, then DNFed near the end of the course and did not qualify for the finals. Thankfully, Moltzan is OK, though shaken up, after getting on her inside ski and tumbling over the front of her skis. Teammates Nina O'Brien and AJ Hurt also started in the qualifying round but did not qualify for the finals.

Up next, the women will travel to Levi, Finland for a pair of slalom races on Nov. 21-21.

On Sunday it was the mens' turn. It's a special moment when you win a World Cup event, but winning your first World Cup event in your home nation, that is an experience not many skiers have had. This weekend, Austrian skier, Christian Hirschbühl was able to experience this. After qualifying 15th for the race, Hirschbühl fought his way to make it into the big final where he went head to head against his team mate, Dominik Raschner. Raschner had led the qualification, along with the majority of his races, however, Hirschbühl managed to close the gap and take the win in the last race.

The Norwegians were in full throttle this evening on the course. The small final played out between, the well experienced World Cup skier and runner up in the Lech/Zürs Parallel event last season, Henrik Kristoffersen, and his team mate, Atle Lie McGrath. After suffering a season-ending injury last year, this was McGrath’s second World Cup start since. Putting everything on the line, McGrath managed to cling onto 3rd place which made it his second World Cup podium.

Nonetheless there were a few upsets that occurred throughout qualification and the final races. Winner of the same event but last seasons, Alexis Pinturault (FRA), did not finish his second run after going through a gate. Alexander Schmid (GER), who placed third in the Lech/Zürs Parallel last season managed to qualify, however, finished 12th. The Swiss national team were missing had some strong skiers amongst their Men’s squad today, however, none of them managed to qualify for the race.

The next stop on the Men's World Cup Tour will be in Lake Louise, Canada between the 26th to 28th of November.