WENGEN, Switzerland — Atle Lie McGrath raced to the quickest time within the first run of a World Cup slalom on Sunday then paid tribute to a Swiss nice with a signature ski flip.
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The USA-born Norwegian, sporting bib No. 4, noticed that he posted the main time then copied the post-race gesture of Didier Cuche, the retired downhill racer whose son he has helped to ski slalom.
Cuche, who gained 21 World Cup races earlier than retiring in 2012, would kick up his proper ski, flipping it finish over finish earlier than catching it along with his gloved proper hand.
“I’m coming for you, Didier!” McGrath mentioned with a smile on the TV digital camera within the end space.
McGrath, whose father Felix raced for the U.S. crew on the 1988 Calgary Olympics, later described Cuche as “one of my heroes.”
“He told me in Kitzbühel last year that if I taught his son how to ski slalom he would teach me the Cuche Flip because I’m so bad at it,” mentioned the 24-year-old McGrath.
McGrath was 0.43 sooner than teammate Henrik Kristoffersen, who gained the Wengen slalom 3 times. Swiss racer Tanguy Nef, sporting lower-ranked bib No. 20, was third quickest with 0.53 to make up within the afternoon run.
Norway-born Lucas Pinheiro Braathen was fifth, 0.82 behind his good good friend McGrath, aiming to offer Brazil a primary win within the 68-year historical past of the World Cup circuit.
One 12 months in the past, McGrath additionally led after the primary run earlier than ending second to Manuel Feller of Austria.
“This year I’m prepared,” he advised Swiss broadcaster RTS. “I’m just going to ski my heart out and put all my emotions on the slope and see what it holds up to.”
Ben Ritchie of the U.S. defied sporting bib No. 28 to have the eighth-fastest time, 0.97 off the lead and fewer than a half-second from the rostrum locations.
The sunshine and blue skies of Saturday for the traditional Lauberhorn downhill had been changed by clouds for the slalom that’s raced on a distinct slope that shares the identical end space.
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