PHOTO: Bildbyrån
New season, but most things are as usual in the ski cross world cup.
The winner’s name is Sandra Näslund.
Today’s victory in Val Thorens was her 19th in a row and the 38th of her outstanding career.
Sandra Näslund27, lined up from December 2021 to February this year 18 consecutive victories in the World Cup, three more than Ingemar Stenmark’s previous record on the alpine slopes.
It could have been two more if it hadn’t been for one knee suddenly starting to give out. When yet another overall World Cup title was secured, Näslund took no risks and withdrew from the two final competitions in Canada.
In other words, the season premiere in Val Thorens was also the ski cross queen’s comeback.
Dominated big
There she did as she usually does, dominated big and won again.
– Must go fast from the start and then make sure to get a good line, said Näslund to Viaplay before the start.
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She went straight from chat to workshop. No one was close to threatening the Swede in the quarter- and semi-finals. Fanny Smithone of her fiercest competitors, got hooked at the start of the final but any possible Swedish concern was unwarranted.
Näslund extended the lead and won by a good margin.
– It felt good, it was a bit tricky, but I managed to keep the lead and am very happy, she tells Viaplay.
With 38 victories in the World Cup, Näslund is approaching another legend, Anja Pärsonwho had 42 career wins.
Heavy for the Swedish men
Due to changing weather conditions, several strong skaters disappeared in the men’s qualifying on Tuesday.
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Erik Mobärg, ninth in the overall World Cup last season, was one. The brother David Mobärg made it through the qualifiers, but ended up badly in his round of 16 and crashed.
Also for the reigning junior world champion Fredrik Nilsson ended the day after a race. He was good for a long time, but crossed the finish line third and was eliminated.
Elliott Baralo advanced from their round of 16 but was eliminated in the quarterfinals. His eleventh place was almost a personal best in the World Cup.
Austrians Tristan Takats won, his first World Cup win. Takats held off the American Tyler Wallach.
Already on Friday, it’s time for the second race of the season, also in Val Thorens.
READ MORE: Pernilla Wiberg’s heavy criticism of Swedish skiing – now points out the big mistake: “The most dangerous thing that can happen”
Born: 6 July 1996 (age 27).
Branch: Ski cross.
Club: Kramfors alpine.
Main merits: Olympic gold in 2022, Olympic fourth in 2018, fifth in 2014. Individual WC gold in 2017, 2021 and 2023 and in team 2023. Overall victory in the World Cup 2017–2018, 2019–2020, 2021–2022 and 2022–2023. 38 victories and a further 26 podiums in the World Cup in 104 starts.
Current: Claimed her 19th straight victory when she won the season opener in Val Thorens in superior style.
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