Lara Gut-Behrami crystallizes the Giant Slalom and the overall World Cup

Crystal ski Sunday for Lara Gut-Behrami in Saalbach! The Swiss athlete takes the Crystal Globe in Giant Slalom for the first time following the final event of the season in this discipline, as well as the Crystal Globe for the overall World Cup winner 2023/24. Joan Verdu skis a sensational race to score his best World Cup result to date with second place in the Giant Slalom on Saturday following time out due to severe back pain. Anna Swenn-Larsson finishes third in the Slalom on Saturday.

"The World Cup Crystal Globe is of course a wonderful achievement, but so is the Giant Slalom globe, because it's the first in this discipline for Lara Gut-Behrami. Now it doesn't matter what happens because the big pressure for next week is over," emphasizes HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber. "We'll see what else comes along at the weekend. Despite the many race cancellations, including the four speed events in Garmisch and Val di Fassa, it has been a superb season for her with many victories and podiums. With Joan Verdu, we have seen what is possible. Unfortunately, he didn't compete very often this season due to injury. But this result is yet more confirmation that the way we work together is right. Anna Swenn-Larsson's podium is brilliant, especially in the last race. She had a difficult start to the season for health reasons, but has managed superbly to get back on top form. Ultimately, we and she can all be satisfied with this season."

771 points to win the Giant Slalom Crystal Globe

In the greatest style, Lara Gut-Behrami landed two Crystal Globes following the Giant Slalom on Sunday. Finishing in tenth place was enough for the Swiss athlete to celebrate two major triumphs, the Crystal Globe in the Giant Slalom and the big Crystal Globe as the overall World Cup winner. Four Giant Slalom victories under her belt this season and a total of 771 points secured the 32-year-old her first Crystal Globe in this discipline. Third place in the Giant Slalom this season went to Sara Hector from Sweden. In the overall World Cup, Lara Gut-Behrami is now an unmatchable 208 points ahead of Federica Brignone, who is in second place.

"I'm so proud it worked out"

"This Giant Slalom globe means a lot to me. For me, it's all about the Giant Slalom. If you are fast in this discipline, you can also do well in the other disciplines," explained Lara Gut-Behrami at the finish. "I always hoped that I would be able to compete for the Giant Slalom globe at some point. I'm so proud that it worked out. I wasn't skiing to be on the safe side, I'm simply not good on this snow. At the same time, I knew that I had to ski well and not risk everything. It is also a fantastic feeling that I was able to win the big globe again. You have to play your cards right from the start, and everything worked out well this year. I will give it my all again for the final races." The best HEAD Worldcup Rebel in this race was Ragnhild Mowinckel from Norway in eighth place. Sara Hector finished twelfth and Camille Rast from Switzerland was 15th.

Joan Verdu's best result of his career so far

On Saturday, in the last Giant Slalom of the season, Joan Verdu finished second to achieve the best result of his career to date. The Andorran athlete, who was in fifth place after the first run, bagged his second podium following his third place in the Giant Slalom in Val d'Isere in December 2023. "I am amazed. I've had a very complicated month during which my back was blocked and I couldn't ski. I lay in bed for two weeks and wasn't able to move. I'm very happy that I was able to compete today and race to my best World Cup result," is how the 28-year-old analysed his achievement. Twelfth place went to Atle Lie McGrath from Norway and 15th place to Alexander Schmid from Germany. In the last Slalom of the season on Sunday, the best HEAD Worldcup Rebel was Johannes Strolz from Austria in tenth place.  

Lena Dürr is second in the Slalom World Cup

Anna Swenn-Larsson also enjoyed a successful end to the season with her third place in the Slalom on Saturday. Following her third place in Jasna in January and her victory in Soldeu in February, it was the third Slalom podium for the Swedish athlete this season. The 32-year-old started the second run in the lead. Camille Rast finished the Slalom in eighth place, Sara Hector was twelfth, Dzenifera Germane from Latvia 14th and Lena Dürr from Germany 15th. Lena Dürr is second in the Slalom World Cup behind Mikaela Shiffrin.