Courtesy of Red Bull Media Service
Photographer Credit:
Erich Spiess/ASP/Red Bull Content Pool
Norwegian grabs second in opening FIS World Cup slalom as Hirscher ends 17th.
2016 FIS World Cup slalom champion Henrik Kristoffersen showed that he is intent on winning back his crown from Marcel Hirscher with second place at the opening race of the new season in Levi, Finland.
The Norwegian finished 160 points behind Hirscher last season but, with the Austrian currently coming back from injury, used his good off season to claim 80 points behind winner Felix Neureuther.
Photographer Credit:
Erich Spiess/ASP/Red Bull Content Pool
Great Britain’s Dave Ryding looked set finally for his maiden FIS World Cup slalom victory halfway down the final run of the meet, but he slid out with over half a second advantage over Neureuther.
The German takes 100 points for the win with Sweden’s Mattias Hargin third to bag 60 points, the same three occupying the top three FIS overall positions as well.
Giant slalom specialist Alexis Pinturault started the season in impressive form in eighth place with Hirscher 17th as he nurses the bad ankle injury from training.
The 28-year-old, who was fourth after the first run, revealed: ”The first run was super, that went sensationally well.
Photographer Credit:
Erich Spiess/ASP/Red Bull Content Pool
“In the end I hoped for a better result, but I have a lot of motivation to get my speed back. Today showed me that at the moment I am still lacking the class of the other guys.”
The next race FIS men’s race is the downhill at Lake Louise on November 25 with the next men’s slalom event happening at Val di’Isere on December 10.
Photographer Credit:
Erich Spiess/ASP/Red Bull Content Pool