Jepsen and Oatway back on top, Aigner siblings complete Saalbach clean sweep

After enthralling Downhill races kicked off the FIS Para Alpine Skiing World Cup stop in Saalbach last week, athletes took to the snow once more between 16-17 January to compete for Super-G glory.

MOLLIE JEPSEN: BACK ON TOP

For the first time since 2021, Mollie Jepsen (CAN) is back on top of the World Cup podium with a scintillating second day of racing in the Super-G. She has consistently been in the top three since touching down in Austria, including two third-place finishes in the Downhill, but this is her first gold of the season. Jepsen initially clinched bronze in the race first race but made every second count in the final one with 0.05 seconds the difference.

“I am super happy with today. I’ve been pretty frustrated with my skiing all week and knew I had more in the tank. I skied the way I know I can and have been in training, I’m really happy to end the Saalbach series with a win,” she said.

“It’s been a long time since I took the top spot in a World Cup. After all my injuries, I wasn’t sure I would ever wear a leader bib again and I am stoked to walk away with it, and with even more confidence going into the rest of the season.”

The 26-year-old pipped Varvara Voronchikhina (RUS) and Aurélie Richard (FRA) to gold in the second outing, but in the first it was the former who finished on top while the latter came in second, Jepsen coming in third to complete the podium.

KURT OATWAY: ‘RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES’

Kurt Oatway (CAN) added to the Canadian success in Europe, clinching top spot in the second of two men’s Sitting Super-G races in what he described as ‘very challenging.’ In his first race, the 41-year-old finished third behind Jeroen Kampschreuer (NED) and Takeshi Suzuki (JPN) but the former failing to finish in the second outing paved the way for a new champion in Austria, which Oatway took full advantage of. He was joined by Niels de Langen (NED) and Renè de Silvestro (ITA) on the podium on Saturday 17 January.

“It was a tight race today, first to fifth was separated by 0.59 seconds, and with me being the first sitter down I was sitting on edge for a while but managed to pull off a win today,” Oatway said.

“The course set was very challenging and I could have cleaned a few things up, but the results speak for themselves. It feels good being the top spot after about a year and dealing with injuries. These races are setting me up on a solid foundation moving into the rest of the season.”

AIGNER SIBLINGS COMPLETE CLEAN SWEEP

It has been a special occasion on home snow for Johannes Aigner (AUT) and Veronika Aigner (AUT), competing in the men’s and women’s VI, as they completed a golden clean sweep in Saalbach.

The sibling trio, including Veronika’s guide Elisabeth, earned a gold medal double in the Downhill before replicating their form in the Super-G across 16-17 January. In the men’s VI, Johannes beat Neil Simpson (GBR) and Giacomo Bertagnolli (ITA) to win a fourth consecutive World Cup gold in the first race. In the second, a similar story unfolded as he collected his fifth, while Simpson and Bertagnolli switched places to earn third and second, respectively.

In women’s VI, the podium remained unchanged through both races. Veronika finished in the top spot on both occasions, extending her run of World Cup gold medals to four in a row. Elina Stary (AUT) contributed to the Austrian domination with two second place finishes, while Sara Choi (KOR) continues her fine form with back-to-back bronzes.

FIRST SPEED GOLD OF SEASON FOR BAUCHET

Alexis Guimond carried his momentum from a men's Standing Downhill gold into the first Super-G race of Saalbach, clinching top spot ahead of Arthur Bauchet (FRA) and Aleksei Bugaev (RUS) in second and third. But at the second time of asking, it was the Frenchman who was able to clinch his first speed gold of the season in what was effectively a reshuffle of the podium. Bugaev moved up to second, while Guimond finished third.

“To get back on the Downhill podium, I needed to be technically solid – more than I was in Santa Caterina. I’m happy to have stepped onto the second step of the podium in the first Downhill, because I needed that for confidence,” Bauchet said.

“Today I managed to rely on my technique on the skis and put down a run that was technically solid. I’ll try and keep that in mind for the next races, but I’m not going to rest on my laurels because the others aren’t far behind.”

SIGNIFICANT GOLD FOR FORSTER

In the women’s Sitting races, Audrey Pascual Seco (ESP) looked to complete a clean sweep in Saalbach by adding to her two Downhill golds with a Super-G double. Things went according to plan in race one, with a convincing win ahead of Anna-Lena Forster (GER) in second, and Barbara van Bergen (NED) in third.

When it came to the second race, however, both Pascual Seco and Van Bergen did not finish, leaving sole finisher Forster to the top spot. It was the German’s first World Cup speed gold since February 2025.

NEXT STOP

Next up for these skiers is a trip to Germany, with two Slalom races on the cards in Feldberg. Action from the fifth World Cup stop will run between 22-23 January.