Featured Image: Austrian team celebrating / GEPA Pictures

Schwarz Clinches Victory

Marco Schwarz claimed victory in Alta Badia’s giant slalom with a performance that was both calculated and powerful. After a strong Run 1, Schwarz trusted his line and built speed throughout the course, one of the few athletes able to push aggressively while maintaining control. He kept his composure through some of the bumpier sections created by slightly warmer conditions on second run, skiing a strong and solid run from top to bottom. The result earned him his eighth World Cup victory and just the second giant slalom win of his career, his first GS triumph since Palisades Tahoe in 2023.

“This victory means a lot to me,” Schwarz said afterward. “It was a long time since my last win, so it’s good for all of us—good for the whole team. And thanks to everyone who was cheering.” Coming back from injury, Schwarz also took a moment to acknowledge those who supported him through difficult times, adding, “There are so many people to thank who helped me through tough moments. My fan club is here too—it means a lot.”

Reflecting on his decisive second run, Schwarz pointed to instinct and patience as the key. “It was a tough fight. There were a couple of gates that were a little bumpy, but the rest was really good. I tried to focus on my instinct and let the skis run.”

Austria’s dominance was clear, with Stefan Brennsteiner joining Schwarz on the podium in third, showcasing the depth and consistency of the Austrian team. Their coach’s course set laid the foundation for a competitive second run, and the athletes delivered when it mattered most. Austria’s two podiums and Schwarz’s controlled aggression under pressure made today a masterclass in tactical giant slalom skiing.

ALTA BADIA,ITALY,21.DEC.25 – ALPINE SKIING – Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA), Marco Schwarz (AUT) and Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Harald Steiner

Braathen and Brennsteiner Complete the Podium

Lucas Braathen came out in full attack today, handling the increased swing of the second-run course with precision and composure. He stayed clean throughout to secure second place, marking his seventh World Cup podium. Braathen’s aggressive skiing reflected clear intent; he came to Alta Badia seeking redemption and showed it with every turn. After the race, the moment carried deep emotion for Braathen, who called Gran Risa “one of the most legendary races we have on the tour,” adding that it was one of the venues he grew up watching on television after being introduced to the sport by his father at age nine.

Racing back onto the podium with the Brazilian flag made the result even more meaningful. “If it wasn’t for the people around me—my team, my family, my friends—I could never have done what I did today,” Braathen said, emphasizing the unconditional support that carried him through both setbacks and successes.

Stefan Brennsteiner continued his season-long consistency in giant slalom, securing third place and putting two Austrians on the podium. Skiing the second run, set specifically for the Austrians by coach Wolfgang Auderer, Brennsteiner tackled the increased swing and challenging rhythm with confidence and precision. “Great season till now. Really solid results. Two podiums, one podium, one win. Yeah, really happy about it,” he reflected after the race. Acknowledging the difficulty of the second run, he added, “It was tough. The first round was not that tough. I was thinking pretty okay, but second round will be a fight and it was exactly like this.” This marks his third podium of the World Cup season, reinforcing his reliability and strong form, though Brennsteiner is already looking ahead to a family-focused holiday: “I’m going home for Christmas to my family. Maybe celebrate with them a little bit. Training afterwards between Christmas and New Year. ”

Together, Braathen and Brennsteiner highlighted the tactical and mental demands of the Gran Risa, showing that precision, aggression, and composure are all required to succeed on one of the World Cup’s most challenging giant slalom courses.

Fabian Gratz Steals the Show with Impressive Climb

German skier Fabian Gratz delivered the standout run of the day, moving up 24 positions on the second run to finish fifth. He won the run by 0.84 seconds, skiing absolutely flawlessly from start to finish. Through the challenging swing section that troubled many of his competitors, Gratz dominated, combining precision, speed, and composure. His performance was a clear statement that he can challenge the top athletes when the course demands technical skill and fearless aggression.

North Americans Face Challenges on the Second Run

Bridger Gile, who started first in the second run after placing 13th in Run 1, displayed the speed to challenge the leaders. However, he ran into trouble on the big swings, losing his outside ski entering a right-footer and hitting a bump that ultimately ended his run when his ski came off.“It was a little bumpy and a little dark, and I couldn’t really see the snow,” Gile explained. “As soon as I went to step on it, the ski just popped off.”

While the result was frustrating as he continues to search for a breakthrough World Cup GS finish, Gile took positives from the experience. “It was really cool to start that late in the second run and actually be competing in a World Cup,” he said, adding that his skiing feels to be in a good place moving forward.

River Radamus also came out firing but made a few costly mistakes, including going hip down into a left-footer, late and low. His recovery was impressive, allowing him to regroup and ski into 7th place overall. While consistency remains the focus, his speed suggests he’ll be back challenging the podium soon.

“I was racing to win — not racing the finish,” Radamus said, acknowledging the increased difficulty of the second run.

Gran Risa Tests the Veterans

The Gran Risa once again proved unforgiving, even for the sport’s most seasoned contenders. Several veterans arrived in Alta Badia with hopes of contending for the win, but the demanding second run exposed fatigue, timing issues, and the fine margins required to succeed on this classic course.

Marco Odermatt worked his way up five positions after sitting 11th following Run 1, skiing an aggressive and committed second run. He held the green light nearly all the way down the course before a mistake near the finish cost him valuable time. Racing for the fifth day in a row, Odermatt’s performance was impressive, though signs of fatigue were evident late in the run.

Henrik Kristoffersen also came into the second run with something to prove. He started strong and attacked from the top, but was unable to find another gear through the lower section. The Norwegian looked fatigued toward the finish, and a lack of cleanliness in his skiing prevented him from climbing higher up the leaderboard.

Despite today’s challenges, Odermatt remains a central figure in the giant slalom season. However, today’s result reshuffled the GS standings, with Stefan Brennsteiner moving into the lead on 305 points. Odermatt now sits just behind after previously holding the top spot following his third-place finish in Val d’Isère, while Henrik Kristoffersen remains third with 200 points. With momentum shifting and margins tightening, the battle among the sport’s top veterans is clearly far from settled.

Race Results

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Second Run Analysis: Top Three and North Americans