“I was stressed all day”
McGrath has been the form racer this season, with excellent wins in Alta Badia and Wengen, but was seeking a confidence boost here after an Olympic Games that hadn’t gone to plan.
The pressure had ramped up upon him through the second run. Kristoffersen put in a trademark battle with the piste, recovering well from some untidy mid-course turns to take the lead.
Then came Braathen, who carved out typically clean, smooth turns. But he missed Kristoffersen’s time by a whisker: the Viking pounded his chest with delight as he held his place in the leader’s chair.
McGrath, however, kept his head and his line, to cling on to the lead. He dealt well with the mid-course ruts to take the spoils. He’s often felt like he falls on the wrong side of those elusive hundredths of a second: this time he was the beneficiary.
“I was not calm, I was very stressed and nervous all day,” admitted McGrath afterwards. “I think the added pressure of the Slalom globe was for sure something that was new for me, I haven’t been in a fight in the last couple of races before.
“This was a new experience, and new experiences are tiring. I was very nervous, but to have the hundredth on my side today just felt amazing.”
McGrath knew his exemplary morning should give him enough advantage to stay ahead. “For sure my first run helped me get there,” he said. “The second run was not great, but it was enough, and today that was all I could do. Just fighting. Trying to stay calm and stay clean.”