The final battles in Sella Nevea (ITA)

The finals of the para alpine skiing World Cup in Sella Nevea (ITA) proved to be a true challenge of adaptation and flexibility for the organizing committee, teams, and athletes. In addition to resuming some of the competitions that could not take place in Kranjska Gora (SLO) the previous week, Sella Nevea experienced a significant change in the program right from the start, forced to adapt to very spring-like snow conditions. Thus, instead of the last downhill of the season, two giant slaloms were conducted on the "Canin" slope on Tuesday and Thursday, followed by the final slalom of the season on Friday.

Fierce battles for the podium

Technical events always promise surprises in the second run, and the first competitions held in Sella Nevea did not disappoint. In the two giant slaloms, the Women Vision Impaired category saw interesting shake-ups in the podium hierarchy between the first and second runs. For example, the British duo composed of Menna Fitzpatrick and her guide Katie Guest clinched victory in the second run of the first giant slalom, after initially holding the provisional third place. The next day, Martina Vozza (ITA) and her guide Ylenia Sabidussi (ITA) managed to elevate their performance in the second run, finishing 2nd behind the leaders of their category, Veronika Aigner (AUT) and her guide Elisabeth Aigner (AUT). Alexandra Rexova (SVK), with her guide Hugo Rybar (SVK), demonstrated consistency by stepping onto the podium in each of the first three race days (2nd, 3rd, and 2nd). As usual, the Aigner sisters (AUT) dominated the slalom held on Friday, ahead of the Slovak and British duos.

Determined to close the points gap on Marie Bochet (FRA) in the overall standings, Ebba Aarsjoe (SWE) displayed imperial form in the first three technical events of these finals, clocking the fastest time in each run. Also consistently performing, Anna-Maria Rieder (GER) and Marie Bochet (FRA) managed to apply some pressure on the Swedish skier in the two giant slaloms, not allowing her to build enough lead in the first run to secure the second run. The German finished twice in 2nd place, and the Frenchwoman twice in 3rd. Friday's first slalom run proved highly selective, with many athletes eliminated, including Anna-Maria Rieder (GER). Returning to competition after two blank seasons, Michaela Gosselin (CAN) seized the opportunity to claim the third spot on the podium, behind Ebba Aarsjoe (SWE) and Marie Bochet (FRA).

Skiers in the Women Sitting category also engaged in a fierce battle for top positions in the first three technical events. Although Anna-Lena Forster (GER) once again won all three races, she faced a challenge from the experienced Barbara Van Bergen (NED), who posted the fastest time in the first run of the first giant slalom on the "Canin" slope in Sella Nevea. The German then turned this pressure into a positive, delivering an impressive second run to secure victory. Laurie Stephens (USA) completed the podium in 3rd place. At the end of the second giant slalom, Audrey Pascual Seco (ESP) stood on the podium behind the German and the Dutch skiers. The young Spanish skier then claimed 2nd place in the slalom, behind Anna-Lena Forster (GER) and ahead of Laurie Stephens (USA), who once again finished 3rd.

In the Men Vision Impaired category, despite being physically weakened by the flu, Giacomo Bertagnolli (ITA), with his guide Andrea Ravelli (ITA), won the first giant slalom, resisting pressure from the Austrian duo Johannes Aigner and Nico Haberl. This first podium was completed by Mingyu Hwang (KOR) and his guide Junghyeong Kim (KOR). The second giant slalom held on Thursday saw an Austrian-Canadian battle for victory. Leading after the first run, Johannes Aigner (AUT) and his guide Nico Haberl (AUT) were once again faster (by only 15 hundredths) than Kalle Ericsson (CAN) and his guide Sierra Smith (CAN), who finished 2nd. Fourth after the first run, Hyacinthe Deleplace (FRA) and his guide Roy Piccard (FRA) delivered an excellent second run, also within the same second as the Austrian duo, securing third place. The battle for victory intensified the next day in the last slalom of the season. After the first run, the top three duos were separated by less than 40 hundredths! Third after this first run, Kalle Ericsson (CAN), with his guide Sierra Smith (CAN), then showed extremely fast skiing in the second run, clinching victory ahead of Johannes Aigner (AUT) and his guide Nico Haberl (AUT), 2nd, and the Italian duo composed of Giacomo Bertagnolli and his guide Andrea Ravelli, leaders after the first run who finished 3rd.

The Franco-Swiss battle continues in the Men Standing category between Arthur Bauchet (FRA) and Robin Cuche (SUI). The Swiss won the first giant slalom held in Sella Nevea, delivering an excellent first run and resisting pressure from the French skier in the second run. Arthur Bauchet (FRA) then took revenge by winning the second giant slalom, and the last slalom of the season. Third in the first giant slalom, Aaron Lindstroem (SWE) achieved his first World Cup podium in the discipline. The next day, Federico Pelizzari (ITA) completed the podium in 3rd place. It was also the first World Cup podium for the young Christoph Glötzner (GER) at the end of Friday’s slalom. Third after the first run, he resisted Robin Cuche's (SUI) charge from fourth to second place. Second after the first run, Thomas Grochar (AUT) finished just off the podium. Note that Arthur Bauchet won all the slaloms held this season!

The most suspenseful moments of the first races of the Sella Nevea finals were provided by the Men Sitting category. As always, the top 5 was highly contested, starting with the first giant slalom. Sixth after the first run, Jeroen Kampschreur (NED) made the most impressive comeback of the day, recording the fastest time in the second run and thus finishing in second place. The Dutch skier couldn't catch up with the significant lead Rene' De Silvestro had established in the first run, allowing him to maintain the lead. The podium was completed by Jesper Pedersen (NOR) in third place. The next day, the Norwegian seemed poised to add another victory to his record as he led after the first run, but he once again had to concede victory to Jeroen Kampschreur (NED), who won the second giant slalom of these finals. With the best time in the second run, the Italian Rene' De Silvestro moved up from 5th to 3rd place, once again denying Niels De Langen (NED) a place on the podium. However, the most thrilling second run of these technical events was the slalom on Friday. With Takeshi Suzuki (JPN) leading after the first run, the Japanese team was poised to celebrate a victory, but to everyone's surprise and thanks to an excellent second run, it was Taiki Morii who secured the win for Japan. At 44 years old, Morii, who was in 6th place after the first run, with a 1.78-second deficit behind his compatriot, delivered a remarkable performance! The podium was completed by Jesper Pedersen (NOR) in 2nd place and Jeroen Kampschreur (NED) in 3rd.

2023/24 Para Alpine Skiing World Cup Downhill Winners

Despite the efforts of the Sella Nevea finals organizing committee, the high temperatures and spring-like snow conditions did not allow the final downhill of the season to take place on the magnificent and highly technical "Canin" slope. The speed season thus turned out to be very short, with 3 races held (two in St. Moritz (SUI) and one in Cortina d'Ampezzo (ITA)), which crowned the following athletes:

Vision Impaired

• Menna Fitzpatrick and her guide Katie Guest (GBR) - 240 points

• Sara Choi and her guide Sanghyun Jung (KOR) - 240 points

• Johannes Aigner and his guide Nico Haberl (AUT) - 280 points

Standing

• Marie Bochet (FRA) - 280 points

• Robin Cuche (SUI) - 300 points

Sitting

• Anna-Lena Forster (GER) - 180 points

• Jesper Pedersen (NOR) - 230 points

2023/24 Para Alpine Skiing World Cup Slalom Winners

The slalom season, on the other hand, was able to be completed with the last slalom held during the Sella Nevea finals. The following athletes win the crystal globe for the discipline:

Vision Impaired

• Veronika Aigner and her guide Elisabeth Aigner (AUT) - 900 points

• Giacomo Bertagnolli and his guide Andrea Ravelli (ITA) - 620 points

Standing

• Ebba Aarsjoe (SWE) - 800 points

• Arthur Bauchet (FRA) - 900 points

Sitting

• Anna-Lena Forster (GER) - 750 points

• Rene’ De Silvestro (ITA) - 740 points

All the para alpine skiing World Cup standings are available on the following page: FIS Points & Rankings.

The giant slalom, super-G, and overall standings globes are still up for grabs. The final races, a giant slalom and super-G, will take place on Sunday and Monday at Sella Nevea.