Manuel Feller delighted the local fans by achieving an unexpected victory in the World Cup slalom event at the iconic Hahnenkamm in Kitzbuhel. The Austrian skier, who was in fourth place after the initial run, knelt on the snow at the finish line awaiting the final three competitors, all of whom fell short. Loic Meillard, the first-run leader and reigning world champion, finished 0.35 seconds behind in second place, aiming for his first slalom win of the season after two podium finishes in December.
Germany’s Linus Strasser, the winner of the race two years ago, claimed third place, finishing 0.53 seconds behind Feller. Strasser narrowly edged out Lucas Pinheiro Braathen by a mere four-hundredths of a second to secure a spot on the podium.
Feller’s victory was an emotional moment as he lifted one of his skis in the air and let out a triumphant scream upon confirmation of his win. In tears during a post-race interview, Feller expressed the significance of the victory, mentioning his struggles throughout the season and his determination to persevere.
The triumph came after a disappointing performance by the Austrian team in the Hahnenkamm downhill event, with Vincent Kriechmayr finishing 13th, the best among the Austrian skiers. Feller, the reigning slalom champion, had been battling back pain in recent years and had not secured a victory since his triumph in Palisades Tahoe, California, in March 2024.
The Kitzbuhel slalom victory marked Feller as the first Austrian skier to win the event since Marcel Hirscher’s triumph nine years ago. The upcoming night race in Schladming on Wednesday will serve as the final slalom event before the Milan Cortina Olympics.