## The Snow Stood Still, But the Champions Crowned: Brignone and Odermatt Clinch World Cup Titles Imagine the thrill of a downhill race: the wind whipping past, the snow spraying, the roar of the crowd. Now imagine that thrill abruptly ending, not with a victor crossing the finish line, but with snowflakes falling on a silent mountain. That’s what happened in Courchevel, France, where cancelled downhills turned the tide and crowned Sofia Goggia and Marco Odermatt as World Cup champions in a dramatic twist. Buckle up, folks, because we’re about to delve into the surprising season finale that shook the alpine skiing world.
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts. It was soon backed by International Ski Federation president Marc Hodler during the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1966 at Portillo, Chile, and became an official FIS event in the spring of 1967 after the FIS Congress at Beirut, Lebanon.
The inaugural World Cup race was held on 5 January 1967 in Berchtesgaden, West Germany, a slalom won by Heinrich Messner of Austria. Jean-Claude Killy of France and Nancy Greene of Canada were the overall winners for the first two seasons.
Rules and Scoring System
Competitors attempt to achieve the best time in four disciplines: slalom, giant slalom, super G, and downhill. The fifth event, the combined, employs the downhill and slalom. The World Cup originally included only slalom, giant slalom, and downhill races.
The current scoring system was implemented in the 1991–92 season. For every race, points are awarded to the top 30 finishers: 100 points to the winner, 80 for second, 60 for third, winding down to 1 point for 30th place. The racer with the most points at the end of the season in mid-March wins the cup, represented by a 9 kilogram crystal globe.
Cancelled Downhills Give Brignone and Odermatt World Cup Titles
Marco Odermatt defended the World Cup title, winning the crystal globe for the 3rd time in a row, 13 times this season, and 3 small globes. Lara Gut-Behrami won her second overall World Cup title in history, winning previously in the 2015–2016 season.
The 2023–24 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, organised by the International Ski Federation (FIS), was the 58th World Cup season in alpine skiing for men and women. The season started on 28 October 2023 in Sölden, Austria, and concluded on 24 March 2024 at the finals in Saalbach, Austria.
Notable Retirements
The following notable skiers, who competed in the World Cup, announced their retirement during or after the 2023–24 season:
- Marco Schwarz
- Wendy Holdener
- Aleksandr Aamodt Kilde
- Petra Vlhová
- Corinne Suter
- Sofia Goggia
- Elena Curtoni
Podium Table by Nation
Table showing the World Cup podium places (gold–1st place, silver–2nd place, bronze–3rd place) by the countries represented by the athletes.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | 27 | 13 | 16 | 56 |
| 2 | Austria | 11 | 15 | 10 | 36 |
| 3 | Italy | 10 | 8 | 11 | 29 |
| 4 | United States | 10 | 3 | 8 | 21 |
| 5 | France | 5 | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| 6 | Slovakia | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 7 | Norway | 2 | 11 | 9 | 22 |
| 8 | Germany | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| 9 | Sweden | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| 10 | Canada | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 11 | Czech Republic | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Croatia | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 13 | New Zealand | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 14 | Slovenia | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | Andorra | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 16 | Great Britain | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Practical Aspects
The season’s results will impact future competitions, with skiers looking to build on their successes and improve their performances. Fans can expect intense competition and thrilling racing in the coming season, as the world’s top skiers vie for the coveted crystal globe.
The World Cup has a significant impact on the sport as a whole, providing a platform for athletes to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level. The World Cup also plays a major role in determining the sport’s global popularity and appeal.
Conclusion
In the thrilling conclusion to the alpine skiing World Cup, Italian downhill specialist Marco Brignone and Swiss sensation Thomas Odermatt emerged victorious, claiming the coveted titles despite several race cancellations. The pivotal moment came after the cancellation of the final downhill event in Wengen, allowing Brignone to secure the overall title, while Odermatt clinched the men’s title with his impressive performances in the cancelled events. This remarkable turn of events highlights the resilience and adaptability of top athletes in the face of uncertainty, showcasing their unwavering dedication to their sport.
The significance of this outcome lies in its implications for the future of alpine skiing. As the sport continues to navigate the challenges posed by climate change, unpredictable weather conditions, and shifting global landscapes, events like these serve as a poignant reminder of the athletes’ capacity to rise above adversity. Brignone and Odermatt’s achievements demonstrate that, with the right mindset and support, even the most unforeseen circumstances can be overcome. As the sport looks to the horizon, their remarkable story serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring future generations of athletes to push the boundaries of human performance.
In the end, it is not the cancellations that define the champions, but the unbreakable spirit that drives them to excel. As Marco Brignone and Thomas Odermatt stand atop the podium, their names etched in the annals of alpine skiing history, we are reminded that the true prize is not the title, but the unwavering passion that fuels their pursuit of excellence.
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