KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia — Henrik Kristoffersen received his first World Cup big slalom in three years on Saturday, denying runner-up Lucas Pinheiro Braathen what would have been Brazil’s first ever top-level victory in Alpine snowboarding.
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Pinheiro Braathen improved from seventh after the opening run as he led the race with solely first-run chief Kristofferson to return down.
The Norwegian misplaced greater than half of his benefit however nonetheless completed a commanding 0.41 seconds forward of his former teammate, who switched nations and returned to the circuit competing for Brazil this season after a yr off.
“For sure, it means a lot. It was a really nice race, really good conditions,” Kristoffersen mentioned.
The Norwegian was the 2018 Olympic silver medalist and 2019 world champion, and had his eighth World Cup win within the self-discipline however first since triumphing right here in March 2022.
Swiss star Marco Odermatt, who trailed Kristoffersen by 0.15 after the opening run, dropped to 3rd.
Odermatt smashed a ski pole towards the boarding of the end space after he completed 0.11 behind Pinheiro Braathen.
“Once you begin with a bonus, you wish to maintain it till the end,” mentioned Odermatt, who’s the Olympic and three-time World Cup GS champion.
No different skier than Kristoffersen or Odermatt has received within the seven GS races held on the Podkoren course since 2019, with the Norwegian successful it 4 occasions.
Pinheiro Braathen got here near ending the streak however needed to accept his fourth podium consequence since his swap to the Brazilian federation.
Joan Verdu of Andorra was third after the opening run however completed ninth.
River Radamus positioned twelfth after posting the second-fastest time within the ultimate run on the hill the place his former teammate Ted Ligety received a file six occasions between 2008 and 2014.
World champion Raphael Haaser completed seventh in his first race since successful gold on residence snow in Saalbach-Hinterglemm two weeks in the past.
The Austrian males’s group has not received any of the 34 World Cup races since Manuel Feller received a slalom in February 2024, matching its worst collection of winless occasions in 1991-92.
snowboarding: /hub/alpine-skiing