After starting number 30, a few activists entered the finish area, distributed colored powder and then wanted to sit in the snow with “Listen to the Climate Council” banners, according to a release from the initiative. However, they were quickly escorted away. In the television broadcast, the scenes were only shown briefly, then other content was shown. The race was briefly interrupted for clean-up work.
Video footage shows the protest:
Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) was a guest of honor at the floodlight classic in Styria; he was addressed directly in the “Last Generation” broadcast. The Chancellor “was able to see the protest against his sloppy climate policy up close,” it said, and continued: “Finally listen to the science, Mr. Nehammer!”
Security measures tightened
Similar disruptions had already taken place this World Cup winter at the men’s slalom in Gurgl and the ski jumpers’ Four Hills Tournament in Bischofshofen. The ÖSV as the organizer has since tightened its security measures – for example with more staff in the finish area.
Straßer leads after the first round
With the exhilaration of a Kitzbühel winner, Linus Straßer took the half-time lead in the Schladming slalom. The German Night Race winner from 2022 was a tenth of a second ahead of his first pursuer Timon Haugan from Norway after the first round on Wednesday. The three-time season winner Manuel Feller was already 1.04 behind in eighth place, and the discipline leader was almost seven tenths short of the podium.
The day after his surprising second place in the giant slalom, Feller didn’t have a flawless run on the rainy Planai. The Tyrolean did not attribute the deficit to the precipitation that had just started in front of him, but rather to an overly aggressive material setting.
The other Austrians did not come into the limelight for the time being in front of a sold-out crowd (22,500 spectators) in Styria. Dominik Raschner (19th/+2.29), Adrian Pertl (20th/+2.32), Fabio Gstrein (26th/+2.60) and Johannes Strolz (28th/+2.85) secured themselves participation in the floodlight final. Joshua Sturm failed to pass the qualification hurdle in 32nd place, Kilian Pramstaller was eliminated. Michael Matt was missing due to a flu-like infection.
