The younger Norwegian males’s slalom staff held the highest two locations within the first run Sunday of a World Cup race that it additionally dominated one 12 months in the past.
Alexander Steen Olsen led by 0.05 seconds on a fog-shrouded Adelboden course forward of Atle Lie McGrath. Tomasso Sala of Italy was third, with 0.23 to make up within the afternoon run.
The United States-born McGrath was runner-up final 12 months to his shut pal Lucas Braathen, who’s sitting out the season in a dispute with the Norwegian ski federation over his business rights.
A fan within the end space Sunday held up a “We Stand With Lucas” banner celebrating Steen Olsen’s quick run with the No. 15 begin bib.
Sitting within the chief’s field, No. 12 starter McGrath raised his left fist and punched the air on seeing the 22-year-old Steen Olsen’s quick time.
“It’s actually enjoyable to have such a robust staff,” Steen Olsen instructed Swiss broadcaster RTS. “We have a very good tradition and actually attempt to push one another within the trainings.”
Another Norwegian skier was additionally within the top-10 with Henrik Kristoffersen, a relative veteran at age 29 and 23-time World Cup slalom winner, in sixth. Kristoffersen, who had 0.50 to make up, additionally has had disputes with federation leaders over his private sponsor offers.
The fog that affected visibility Saturday within the large slalom – the place Norway had 5 top-10 finishers – was nonetheless current on the Chuenisbärgli course in the future later.
Olympic champion Clement Noel was amongst racers failing to complete the primary run, snowboarding out inside 10 seconds.
Adelboden begins a peak mid-season stretch for males’s slalom racers, who additionally go to storied venues Wengen, Switzerland, then Kitzbuhel and Schladming in Austria over the following 17 days.