Alpine skiing | Take back the crown

There is the one who has a title to defend and the one who wants to win it back. On the eve of the new alpine ski season, Marco Odermatt and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde will want to return to the throne, and the fight promises to be fierce.

Nicholas Richard
The Press

Marco Odermatt had to make a lot of space above his hearth last March when he inherited the big crystal globe, as well as the discipline globe for the giant slalom. However, the Swiss had had time to think about his interior decoration since he was destined to rule the world of men’s alpine skiing.

In 2018, at his last Junior World Championships, he won gold in all five events he entered. He will have had two seasons to adapt, and in 2021, he has established himself as one of the brightest prospects in his sport. Last year, he soared above the competition finishing on the podium 16 times in 25 races. He has even won a medal in his last five races, which suggests that he will be able to continue his momentum.

For the Swiss who have been waiting for another glory since Pirmin Zurbriggen, Odermatt is the idol of a new generation.

His sparkling smile is displayed in both victory and defeat. An Olympic gold medalist in the giant slalom, Odermatt is versatile and has been able to avoid injuries since 2019. The 2023 season could yet be his.

Kilde is on a mission

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is without a doubt the most complete speed skier on the planet. Dominating in the super-G and downhill, the 30-year-old Norwegian was inspiring last year by winning the crystal globe in both disciplines.

Kilde had won the big crystal globe in 2020. The following season, he was leading the general classification when he crashed heavily in training in January, in Austria. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament and had to put a cross on the rest of the season. The rehabilitation has been complex, but as Kilde is such a strong and determined athlete, his return in November has been successful. So much so that he won three of his first five races. In the end, only Odermatt could do better than him, but his most important highlight of the season was his two Olympic medals won in Beijing. His first in three Games. Kilde is a powerful and strategic skier in addition to being an inveterate student of his discipline.

It’s been two years since he returned with his Atomic gear of yesteryear and all seems to be going well for Kilde. His partner Mikaela Shiffrin is also helping him enormously in his preparation and the Norwegian will be Odermatt’s main rival this season.

Not far behind

Even if Odermatt and Kilde start with a head start in the big globe race, several skiers will have the ability to join the duo in the final sprint. Top of the list is Alexis Pinturault, who has had a disappointing season. The Frenchman was unable to live up to expectations, but whoever won the championship in 2021 still has what it takes to aspire to top honors.

Beat Feuz, the fastest skier in the world, and Henrik Kristoffersen, the best technician, can also do well, but the fact that they dominate in fewer disciplines could hurt their cumulative score.

Recreate the surprise

Almost no one was expecting Canadian skiers last season. And yet, the maple leaf athletes won three World Cup medals, the best result for the men’s national team since 2015. Canada also reached the podium at the Olympic Games. Broderick Thompson, Cameron Alexander and James Crawford revived the long tradition of the “Canadian Cowboys”.

“Something clearly happened, but I couldn’t put my finger on it,” Crawford told The Press last winter. The bronze medalist at the last Games saw his team transform into a group that can aspire to the podium almost every race, which is a game-changer. If Canadian alpine skiing on the women’s side is doing very well and the next generation is assured, the same can be said for the men.

With Crawford and Alexander at 25 and Thompson at 28, it’s fair to expect big things for the Canadiens next season. Especially since the trio is not alone. We must also add the names of Trevor Philp, Erik Read and Brodie Seager, who can also create surprise and eat points in the standings.