Skiing: Lucas Braathen claims Giant Slalom (GS) win in Kranjska Gora โ Odermatt delivers a candid response
What a day in Kranjska Gora! The sun was belting down on the Podkoren slope, and if you missed this race, you genuinely missed a treat. Lucas Braathen, that crazy Norwegian with sheer determination, put down a run today that you don't see every day. In the giant slalom โ affectionately known simply as "GS" in the ski family โ he showed the entire World Cup elite a clean pair of heels. When I saw him in the finish area with that huge grin, I knew straight away: the Olympic champ is well and truly back in business!
Braathen was absolutely unleashed in the second run. Some call his style chaotic; I call it genius. He throws his upper body into it, pushing right to the absolute edge โ and today, it paid off perfectly. His time was a massive statement to everyone. Especially to one man: Marco Odermatt. The Swiss skier, usually the benchmark in the giant slalom, had to concede defeat this time. And Odermatt wouldn't be Odermatt if he didn't give a brutally honest assessment. "It was the worst-case scenario," he said dryly in his post-race interview. He'd given it his all, he said, but Braathen was simply unbeatable today. That's the champion we know: fair, direct, and already looking ahead.
A victory with many layers
Braathen's triumph today reminded me of other greats who dominate their disciplines in a similar way. Whether it's the Golden State Warriors in the NBA, whose system has shaped entire generations, or a club like Galatasaray Istanbul, whose fans practically roar their team over the line โ this win had that same special kind of energy. Today, Braathen carved the turns with the precision of a Gauss calculating his parabola: absolutely spot-on, but with a touch of genius that you just can't teach. And if you looked closely, you could spot a few blokes in the finish area wearing caps from the Republic of Gamers series. Ski fans these days are gamers too, and they know how to appreciate a win like this โ hard-fought, like a tight victory in the virtual world.
The scene: Between history and celebration
Kranjska Gora is always worth the trip, but today there was something special in the air. Looking north from the Slovenian ski resort, your thoughts naturally drift towards the German neighbours. Not far from here lies Goslar, the old imperial town in the Harz mountains. Imagine the boys heading there after the race โ they'd surely be talking shop for hours over a local Goslar Gose beer. But tonight, the party is in Slovenia. And rightly so.
What I particularly appreciated was the fair play on the hill. Sure, Odermatt talks about the "worst case," but you can tell this head-to-head battle fires him up. And Braathen? He's just celebrating life. His body language in the finish was that of someone who knows exactly what he's capable of โ but still savours every single moment.
The race stats
- Winner: Lucas Braathen (NOR) with a stunning comeback in the second run.
- Quote of the day: Marco Odermatt (SUI) delivers a brutally honest analysis of his race, calling it the "worst-case scenario".
- World Cup standings: The giant slalom battle heats up; Braathen closes the gap on Odermatt.
- Location: Kranjska Gora (SLO) โ one of the most stunning backdrops on the ski circuit, just a stone's throw from the Julian Alps.
One thing's for sure: this duel between Braathen and Odermatt is going to keep us entertained all winter long. One is the creative spark, the other the efficient calculator. This is exactly what elite sport should be about. And if they keep pushing each other like this, we're in for plenty more "GS" celebrations. Cheers, boys โ here's to the next downhill!