«The best ski tester in the world»
Kristoffersen praises ex-rival Hirscher after the premiere win
They have competed in countless races against each other and have been working together since this season: Henrik Kristoffersen and Marcel Hirscher. Now they have reached a first milestone.
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Henrik Kristoffersen is the beaming winner of the slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
For years, the duel between Marcel Hirscher (33) and Henrik Kristoffersen (28) has delighted ski fans. Especially in the slalom, the Austrians and the Norwegians didn’t give each other anything. Usually Kristoffersen was left behind. The races lived off their rivalry – until Hirscher announced his retirement in September 2019.
Then in the spring of 2022 the big coup. With his ski brand “Van Deer – Red Bull Sports”, founded in 2021, the 67-time World Cup winner Hirscher took the former competitor under his wing. Although a change of material is not always easy, Kristoffersen is building on the old successes with its new battens. And how!
«A very special and special moment»
Just three months after the first race as a Van Deer driver, he celebrates his debut victory. In the slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (D), the Norwegian is superior to the competition. His season record so far: seven races, five podiums and never worse than sixth.
“Henrik and I have had many exciting duels in the World Cup,” Hirscher said after the race. “The fact that we can celebrate first place today, our first win together in the World Cup, is a very special and special moment.”
The former rivals have now become friends. “It’s cool to be able to work with an athlete like Henrik. He surprises us anew every day – above all in human terms,” said Hirscher during his visit to the race in Alta Badia (It). ‘He’s so willing. He wants, he wants. That’s when you realize he’s at peace with himself.”
Incredible amount of know-how
The Norwegian also feels comfortable with his new team. Right from the start he was integrated into the Van Deer family without any problems and he benefits from an incredible amount of know-how. “It’s really, really great for me,” he says of the collaboration with Hirscher. And praises him after the victory in Garmisch: “He’s the best ski tester in the world. It’s 100 percent safe.”
Hirscher puts an enormous amount of work into his skis, fine-tunes the material and repeatedly skis down the mountain himself. And can now harvest the first fruits after a short time. And the way Kristoffersen is doing right now, it shouldn’t have been his last win. (bir)
Ex-ski star as entrepreneur: This is how Hirscher presents his coup with Red Bull(00:32)
Attention ski fans! Now quiz and type races
The 2022/2023 ski season is coming up and with it the “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!
The 2022/2023 ski season is coming up and with it the “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!