Kristoffersen stands amongst legends with night slalom win

Standing in the main plaza of Madonna di Campiglio, you’d have a hard time telling what season it was if it weren’t for the Christmas decorations. Only small patches of snow are easily visible and the famous Canalone Miramonti course is one of the few places with enough snow to ski down. Luckily, the organizing committee has hosted this night slalom 34 times, so they are not strangers to making races work, no matter what the weather brings — or doesn’t, in this case.

“The snow’s actually really good,” said U.S. Ski Team head men’s slalom coach Ian Lochhead, following inspection. “The slope’s been watered. It’s not crazy slick injection. You still have pretty good grip, but it’s a nice solid surface.”

Under a clear night sky and bright lights, 70 men started the first run of slalom and at the end of the night, Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway took home the win. This was his second consecutive win at this venue, putting him amongst legends Ingemar Stenmark and Alberto Tomba, who both won consecutive Madonna di Campiglio slaloms.

“I think it’s always going to be special to win a World Cup race,” he said of the victory. “I don’t think I’m ever going to be satisfied. There’s so many legends that come before me and won so much more and there’s so much more you can win. Stenmark has 86 wins, so there’s a bit of road to go there.”

The Norwegian was chased down by Marcel Hirscher of Austria and Stefano Gross of Italy, who finished in second and third, respectively. Hischer has podiumed at the venue three times now–one of which was a victory back in 2012.

“It’s a very technical course here at Madonna di Campiglio, and I have here a lot of mixed emotions,” Hirscher reflected. “I celebrated here one of my biggest victories of my career. Last year, I had maybe the luckiest moment of my life, where I needed so much luck not to get hit by a drone, and today it was very good skiing of mine and I’m super, super happy with second place.”

Fans may recall that Hirscher was in an almost-tragic situation last year when a video drone came crashing out of the sky, barely missing him. This year, he was thankful to not have a repeat incident and have his girlfriend in the finish, cheering him on.

In third place was Gross, earning his first podium finish of the season and pleasing his home crowd, which included his parents. At 1.35 seconds off the winning pace, it also marked his first World Cup podium in Italy. 

Five Americans started the race, David Chodounsky, Robby Kelley, Mark Engel, Michael Ankeny, and AJ Ginnis. Veteran athlete Chodounsky made the top 30 for the first time this season, coming in 17th position, an impressive performance after a tough start to the season. But the real American star of the day was young gun Ginnis, whose first run moved him from bib 58 to 13th position and earned him his first second run in a World Cup.

Photo: Agence Zoom

“Well, this was my first World Cup two years ago, so it’s nice to come back here after being injured last year and be able to perform like that,” he said, slightly out of breath after his performance.

Ginnis, a Green Mountain Valley School alumnus, ended the night in 26th place. The first person he planned to call afterwards? His mom, adding that this was “the best Christmas present I could have given myself.” Kelley and Ankeny did not qualify for second run, and Engel did not finish first run. 

Also, making big moves were Naoki Yuasa of Japan, who podiumed at the venue in 2012, and Zan Kranjec of Slovenia. Yuasa moved from bib 36 to finish the day in eighth place, while Kranjec moved from bib 70 to 28th place.

Men’s World Cup racing continues after Christmas with a speed series in Santa Caterina, Italy Dec. 26-29.

Top 10

1. Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) – Rossignol/Rossignol/Look
2. Marcel Hirscher (AUT) – Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
3. Stefano Gross (ITA) – Volkl/ Tecnica/ Marker
4. Manfred Moelgg (ITA) – Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
5. Andre Myhrer (SWE) – Head/Head/Head
6. Daniel Yule (SUI) – Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
7. Alexis Pinturault (FRA) – Head/Head/Head
8. Naoki Yuasa (JAP) – Hart/Nordica/Marker
9. Patrick Thaler (ITA) –  Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
10. Marco Schwarz (AUT) – Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

Official Results