Swiss skier Thomas Tumler achieved a remarkable milestone on Sunday, capturing his first-ever World Cup victory in the giant slalom at Beaver Creek. The 35-year-old veteran, who has been competing in the World Cup circuit since 2012, delivered a stunning performance to edge out Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen by a slim margin of 0.12 seconds over two runs.
Tumler’s Long-Awaited Moment
In his 124th World Cup start, Tumler finally stood atop the podium. He completed the two runs on the challenging Birds of Prey course in a total time of 2:27.60, narrowly defeating Braathen, who finished with a time of 2:27.72. Slovenian skier Zan Kranjec took third place with a combined time of 2:28.18.
Reflecting on his victory, an emotional Tumler said, “I don’t have the words. When I saw that Beaver Creek was on the calendar in a big way, I was super happy. It’s going to take me time to realize it.”
Tumler’s performance was consistent throughout the event. He was the fastest in the first run with a time of 1:16.24, which gave him a strong lead. Although his second run, timed at 1:11.36, was the seventh fastest, it was enough to secure his victory.
A Memorable Venue for Tumler
Beaver Creek holds special significance for Tumler. He achieved his first World Cup podium there in 2018, finishing third in a giant slalom. Over the years, he has added two more podium finishes to his career—second place in a Parallel-G event at Chamonix, France, in 2020, and third place in a giant slalom in Saalbach, Austria, earlier this year.
Braathen Makes History for Brazil
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, a 24-year-old skier with Norwegian and Brazilian heritage, delivered an outstanding performance, earning Brazil its first-ever Alpine Ski World Cup podium finish. Braathen, who had retired in October 2023 after five successful World Cup seasons, made a comeback this year to represent Brazil instead of Norway.
With the fastest second run of the day at 1:10.41, Braathen climbed the leaderboard to secure second place. His 80 points from this race pushed him to the top of the giant slalom season title standings with 130 points, just ahead of Norway’s Alexander Steen Olsen and Henrik Kristoffersen.
Other Notable Performances
Zan Kranjec, a seasoned skier at 32, secured third place. Kranjec is well-known for his silver medal in the giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, showcasing his consistency in high-pressure competitions.
Swiss superstar Marco Odermatt, the reigning World Cup champion, had a disappointing outing. Despite being eighth after the first run, he fell during his second attempt and did not finish. Odermatt, who dominated last season by winning the overall title along with the downhill, super-G, and giant slalom titles, will be looking to bounce back in upcoming events.
A Landmark Day for Tumler and Alpine Skiing
Thomas Tumler’s victory at Beaver Creek is a testament to perseverance and hard work. After over a decade of competing at the highest level, his long-awaited triumph serves as an inspiration for athletes across the world.
For Brazil, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen’s historic podium finish marks a new chapter in Alpine Skiing, showing how the sport is expanding beyond its traditional strongholds.
With the season in full swing, fans can look forward to more thrilling races as the competition for the giant slalom title heats up.
