By winning the slalom in Kitzbühel, Linus Straßer fulfilled a childhood dream. After his first win of the season, he is now going to the ski party in Schladming as the big favorite.
At the finish, Linus Straßer bowed to the mountain of his childhood – on the ninth attempt he had finally conquered it, the “Schweinsberg”. This refers to the legendary Ganslernhang in Kitzbühel, where Linus Straßer ran his first races for the Kitzbühel Ski Club as a small child. For him it was the long-awaited home win because his home is just a few kilometers away in Kirchberg.
Ganslernhill Curse defeated
Last year he missed the podium by just a hundredth. Before that, he couldn’t cope at all with the slope of his childhood, was never better than 14th place and was even eliminated five times.
With Sunday’s victory, the 31-year-old came full circle, becoming the first German after Felix Neureuther ten years ago to win the Golden Gams in front of his wife and little daughter. “In terms of atmosphere, there’s nothing bigger for me“said Straßer, visibly moved, shortly after the award ceremony.
“Quiet satisfaction” before the next ski party
But the Tyrolean-by-choice didn’t want to celebrate his victory with a big party, quite the opposite: “Personally, I feel rather empty because it’s emotionally exhausting. What I like most is the quiet satisfaction with myself and that’s the best thing for me.”
However, Straßer cannot enjoy the quiet contentment for long, because on Wednesday evening (5.30 p.m. in Live stream and ticker at sportschau.de), the night slalom in Schladming is on the program – and, similar to Kitzbühel, it is anything but quiet. Up to 50,000 spectators are expected at the Planai again this year.
Inspired by Schladming?
But it’s not a problem for Straßer in his current form, he himself says: “I’m skiing really well at the moment, I’m extremely good on the skis, very playful.” And the 31-year-old also knows how to win in Schladming; in 2022 he was there Nightrace right at the top of the podium. Inspired by the Golden Gams, Straßer is now heading to Schladming as the big favorite.
Giant slalom on Tuesday
Before things get exciting for Straßer in the slalom, on Tuesday (5:40 p.m. in Live stream and ticker at sportschau.de) called for the giant slalom specialists.