Hetfleisch and Hueppi edge thrilling victories at Grass Ski World Cup in Velké Meziříčí

Round two of the 2026 FIS Grass Ski World Cup took place in Velké Meziříčí (CZE) on 27 June, with the competition held on the demanding slopes of Fajtův Kopec. Competitors faced scorching summer temperatures and exceptionally hard course conditions, creating a stern test of both technical skill and composure.

The sun-baked slope proved unforgiving throughout the day, with several athletes experiencing anxious moments as the firm surface made it difficult to slow down after the finish. Despite the challenging conditions, the field delivered a series of impressive performances in an exciting day of slalom racing.

Hetfleisch leads Austrian one-two

The women's competition proved to be a closely fought contest, with Tina Hetfleisch (AUT) producing two consistent runs to claim victory.

Fellow Austrian Lara Teynor set the fastest second run of the day to mount a strong challenge, ultimately finishing just behind her teammate in second place. Nicola Fričová (SVK) completed the podium with another solid performance in third.

A total of 21 women from six nations lined up for the race, highlighting the continued international depth of the Grass Ski World Cup circuit.

Hueppi wins by a hundredth

The men's race produced one of the closest finishes of the season so far.

Swiss veteran Mirko Hueppi edged out Filippo Zamboni (ITA) by the narrowest possible margin, crossing the line just 0.01 seconds ahead of the Italian after two tightly contested runs.

Germany's Marcel Knapp, winner of the opening World Cup race of the season, continued his strong start to the campaign by securing third place and another valuable podium finish.

With 36 athletes spanning six different nations, the men's event once again demonstrated the highly competitive nature of the World Cup field.

The 2026 FIS Grass Ski World Cup now continues in Orlické Záhoří (CZE), where Round Three will take place from 30 June to 1 July, as athletes continue their pursuit of valuable World Cup points early in the season.