HAFJELL, Norway — Loic Meillard, the world champion skier from Switzerland, had the fastest time in the first run of the final slalom race of the season on Sunday. Meillard is trying to improve his chances of winning the slalom title. He finished 0.34 seconds ahead of Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who hopes to become the first Brazilian to win a major ski race. Fabio Gstrein from Austria came in third, just 0.1 seconds behind Braathen.
Even though Meillard has eight top-five finishes in slalom this season, he hasn’t won yet. His only World Cup victory in slalom was last year in Aspen, Colorado. Pinheiro Braathen, who returned to skiing after a year off and switched from the Norwegian team, has had four podium finishes this season.
Henrik Kristoffersen, who is currently leading the slalom standings, finished sixth in this race, and he needs to make up 0.84 seconds in the second run later on Sunday. Kristoffersen has won the slalom title three times before, with his last win in 2022. French Olympic champion Clement Noel is in fourth place, finishing 0.52 seconds behind Meillard.
The slalom title will likely be decided in the final race at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, on March 27. Last year’s champion, Manuel Feller, skied out during the first run, but he was already out of the running for the season title before this race began. Marco Odermatt, another Swiss star, won the overall and giant slalom titles on Saturday but does not compete in slalom.
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