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Alpine Skiing: Fenninger and Hirscher claim Overall Titles
The 2014/15 Audi FIS Ski World Cup came to an end on Sunday in Méribel (FRA) with the fight for the Overall Titles going down to the wire. In the end, Anna Fenninger (AUT) defended her Overall Title from last season, after a thrilling battle against Tina Maze (SLO).
Fenninger took the win in the deciding giant slalom race, 0.38 seconds ahead of teammate Eva-Maria Brem. Maze put everything on the line to put pressure on Fenninger but had to be content with third place on the day, and second place for the season, missing the large crystal globe by a mere 22 points.
The battle for the men’s Overall Title was equally entertaining as it came down to a duel between speed specialist Kjetil Jansrud (NOR) and technical specialist Marcel Hirscher (AUT). Jansrud claimed both speed globes in the early part of the week in Meribel, but Hirscher reclaimed the lead in the overall standings after Saturday’s giant slalom. With only Sunday’s slalom left, Jansrud made the decision not to race, ceding the Overall Title to Hirscher.
Meribel provided the perfect backdrop for the thrilling Season Finals. Despite warm temperatures, the Organising Committee ensured that the course was in top shape for the busy week of action that saw nine races in five days.
The speed events kicked off the week with Jansrud claiming the downhill and super-G titles on the men’s side, while Lindsey Vonn (USA) pulled off the same feat for the ladies.
Friday featured the Nations Team Event, which went to Switzerland in a day of racing that saw many of the favourite teams make early exits.
During the weekend, all eyes were on the technical races and battles for the Overall Titles. Hirscher added the giant slalom and slalom titles to his impressive collection of trophies. On the ladies side, Fenninger defended her giant slalom globe, while Mikeala Shiffrin (USA) made it three in a row by winning the slalom title.
It was Hirscher’s fourth-straight Overall Title, eclipsing the record of Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark and Fenninger’s second in a row as the pair brought skiing’s top prizes home to Austria.
Source: fis-ski.com
Fenninger took the win in the deciding giant slalom race, 0.38 seconds ahead of teammate Eva-Maria Brem. Maze put everything on the line to put pressure on Fenninger but had to be content with third place on the day, and second place for the season, missing the large crystal globe by a mere 22 points.
The battle for the men’s Overall Title was equally entertaining as it came down to a duel between speed specialist Kjetil Jansrud (NOR) and technical specialist Marcel Hirscher (AUT). Jansrud claimed both speed globes in the early part of the week in Meribel, but Hirscher reclaimed the lead in the overall standings after Saturday’s giant slalom. With only Sunday’s slalom left, Jansrud made the decision not to race, ceding the Overall Title to Hirscher.
Meribel provided the perfect backdrop for the thrilling Season Finals. Despite warm temperatures, the Organising Committee ensured that the course was in top shape for the busy week of action that saw nine races in five days.
The speed events kicked off the week with Jansrud claiming the downhill and super-G titles on the men’s side, while Lindsey Vonn (USA) pulled off the same feat for the ladies.
Friday featured the Nations Team Event, which went to Switzerland in a day of racing that saw many of the favourite teams make early exits.
During the weekend, all eyes were on the technical races and battles for the Overall Titles. Hirscher added the giant slalom and slalom titles to his impressive collection of trophies. On the ladies side, Fenninger defended her giant slalom globe, while Mikeala Shiffrin (USA) made it three in a row by winning the slalom title.
It was Hirscher’s fourth-straight Overall Title, eclipsing the record of Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark and Fenninger’s second in a row as the pair brought skiing’s top prizes home to Austria.
Source: fis-ski.com
