Manuel Feller delighted local fans by securing an unexpected victory in the World Cup slalom event at the prestigious Hahnenkamm competition in Kitzbuhel. The Austrian skier knelt in the snow in disbelief at the finish area as he witnessed the final three competitors fall short, with world champion Loic Meillard finishing 0.35 seconds behind in second place.
Meillard, aiming for his first slalom win of the season after two podium finishes in December, had to settle for second place. Germany’s Linus Strasser claimed third position, 0.53 seconds behind Feller, narrowly beating out Lucas Pinheiro Braathen for a spot on the podium.
Feller, overwhelmed with emotion, raised one of his skis in triumph and let out a triumphant scream upon confirmation of his victory. In a tearful interview, he expressed the significance of the win, revealing moments of doubt during the season but emphasizing his determination to persevere.
The triumph came on the heels of a disappointing performance by the Austrian team in the Hahnenkamm downhill event, where Vincent Kriechmayr finished 13th, marking the team’s worst result in the race’s history. Feller, a former 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.
Acknowledging the challenges he faced, Feller described this season as one of the toughest periods in his life. His victory marked the first Austrian win in the Kitzbuhel slalom since Marcel Hirscher’s triumph nine years ago. Meanwhile, Atle Lie McGrath, the World Cup discipline leader, skied out in the first run, expressing disappointment at the missed opportunity.
With a night race scheduled in Schladming on Wednesday, the final slalom before the Milan Cortina Olympics, the competition intensifies as Pinheiro Braathen takes the lead in the standings, surpassing McGrath.
