Feller, Marco Schwarz, Olympic silver medalist Johannes Strolz, Michael Matt and Fabio Gstrein still have it in their hands to bring the men’s Nations Cup to Austria. The gap to Switzerland, who are attacking with Daniel Yule, Loic Meillard, Luca Aerni and Ramon Zenhousen, is 132 points. In the Nations Cup overall, Austria leads with 10,516 points ahead of Switzerland (10,319) and Italy (6,295).
However, the decision about the slalom crystal is also extremely exciting. In fact, a quintet still has theoretical chances of winning the discipline, Kristoffersen leads with 371 points ahead of his compatriot Lucas Braathen (323), the German Linus Strasser (307), Feller (301) and the Swiss Daniel Yule (283). For Kristoffersen it would be the third slalom ball after 2016 and 2020, for everyone else the first.
The final started badly for the Norwegian with the failure in the giant slalom, but with the double victory in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the best time in the second Flachau round he should have gained self-confidence in the slalom. But Feller also wants to use the last chance to bring in a crystal ball for Austria this winter, after all 2019/20 was empty.
“Definitely a lot possible”
In the giant slalom on Saturday, Feller finished third in the final standings despite 16th place and zero points, but he had help. “It’s always a bad feeling or bad when you’re dependent on the others,” said Feller, who can look back on “an incredibly cool season” in this discipline. Finally, he wants to show his “best skiing” again in the slalom, then “a lot is definitely possible”.
When Feller last spoke about the fact that he no longer sees himself as a shot contender, he said on Saturday: “Today I experienced firsthand that things go very quickly, that things go in the other direction when it comes to overall ratings. But at the end of the day, the goal is to do well, get on the podium, and then we’ll see what the others do. Just good skiing, doing my best, then I’m satisfied even if the top three in the overall ranking aren’t finished. If I stand down and say, okay, that was good skiing for me, then it fits,” he said.
As the defending ball champion this winter, Marco Schwarz didn’t play a role at the very front because of his ankle injury and aftermath, but found his form back almost to his old form at the end of the season and was fifth twice. “There was a very good uptrend there. We trained here on the salt slope, which I actually enjoyed and I did quite well there. I’ll give it my all again, you have to attack on the slope and drive from top to bottom.”
Slalom team says goodbye to Pfeifer
In Meribel, Austria’s slalom team bids farewell to former group coach Marko Pfeifer, who has been promoted to racing manager. “The association found a very good solution. I understand Marko, as a coach you always want to develop and face new challenges. I think he’s a very good man for the position. In terms of skiing, he is a good coach and incredibly good in terms of organization,” said Feller. “He told us at yesterday’s meeting that he will see to it that he will attend training as much as possible.”
And “Kroisi” will remain with the group, as far as is known, Feller added. What is meant is the Styrian Martin Kroisleitner. “I’ve also worked very well with him in recent years, he has a similar philosophy to Marko and a very good eye,” reported the Tyrolean. The replacement of Pfeifer as head of technology is still open. The ÖSV wants to make a decision soon, so Kroisleitner would probably be an option.
Schwarz thinks it’s a shame that Pfeifer is leaving the group, but don’t begrudge him that he’s now the head coach. “He will do very well. We’re still working with him. It’s still a little unclear who will be our new boss, but Marko will see that he has a good solution. We have good coaches.”