Lukas Feurstein Claims Victory In Just His 18th World Cup Super G
After 34 painful Audi FIS World Cup races, Lukas Feurstein (AUT/Head) finally ended Austria’s long wait for a win on the men’s tour this season with the run of his life on Sunday in the Sun Valley World Cup Finals.
And as if to underline that there will be better to come next season from one of the sport’s traditional powerhouses, Raphael Haaser (AUT/Fischer) took second (+0.19) to seal a much-celebrated Austrian one-two.
Behind the pair came three of the Swiss heavyweights, with Franjo von Allmen (SUI/Head) putting a final cherry on his breakthrough season by grabbing third (+0.42 seconds).
Compatriot Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli), who was awarded his third successive Super G Crystal Globe in the finish area, ended fifth.
Crucially, teammate Stefan Rogentin (SUI/Fischer) was ahead of him in fourth, and, with Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT/Head) only able to finish seventh, that meant the Swiss skier leap-frogged the Austrian in the season standings. Kriechmayr just held on to third, three points ahead of von Allmen.
But while Odermatt celebrated yet another richly deserved Crystal Globe, Feurstein could hardly believe what he had achieved down the technically demanding Sun Valley Challenger Course.
The 23-year-old was skiing in just his 18th Super G World Cup but displaying skills reminiscent of many of his countryman’s finest, Feurstein flew to a time of one minute 10.96 seconds.
“I think I am a really good technical skier and today you needed that part really well. The course was really turney. I wished for a run like that yesterday and today it made my wish come true,” Feurstein said. “It just feels amazing today. Now, just partying.”
Feurstein has been a bright spark during an often difficult season for the Austrian men’s speed team. With the youngster shining brightest on the other side of the Atlantic ocean.
I love skiing in the US, I had my first podium in Beaver Creek (third in December 2024, in the opening race of the season) and now my victory here. Hopefully we will have some more races in the US in the future. " said Feurstein
Teammate Haaser almost matched him. A feat made particularly remarkable by the fact that just eight days previously Haaser broke three of his teeth in a heavy crash during the World Cup Giant Slalom in Hafjell, Norway.But they clearly make them hard in Austria.
“I was really looking forward to the race today,” Haaser said with a smile. “And I’m really happy with my performance.”
Especially strong on the demanding lower section, Haaser’s efforts cap a stunning close to the season for the one-time technical specialist. After grabbing second in January’s Super G in Kitzbühel, Haaser took home a Super G silver and a GS gold from his home World Championships in Saalbach. On Wednesday, he will get the chance to add more silverware in the GS World Cup Finals.
“I think from top to bottom it was a pretty turney course, more like a Giant Slalom I would say and it seems like it fits pretty good for us Austrian guys,” Haaser observed.
A day after being denied by the weather an outside chance to jump ahead of Odermatt and steal the men’s Downhill Crystal Globe, von Allmen’s third place pushed him up to within four points of nabbing a spot on the Super G Globe podium.
Not that the 23-year-old, who started the season with just one career World Cup podium, minded too much. Having ended things with Downhill and Team Combined World Championship golds, plus three World Cup wins.
The youngster has the perfect person to aim for as he seeks to press on next season. Odermatt may not have finished things off quite how he wanted, with a ragged run in Sun Valley denting hopes for a fifth Super G podium in 2024/25, but it has still been stunning from the Swiss No.1.
“It was not my very best race of the season but still I try to get back the emotion from the whole season and really enjoy it,” said the man who now has 13 Crystal Globes and counting. “Every Globe has a little bit of a different story. For me, the special thing about this Globe is probably the victory in Kitzbühel, which was a big dream for me to win this Golden Gams. It was also kind of a switch in my Super G season, I started well but then two less good races, then after the Kitzbühel victory I got a good flow in Super G again. It’s always a very special moment to get the Globe.”
Odermatt will get a chance to celebrate his GS triumph on 27 March, when he will race for a possible ninth and final victory of the season.
