Triumphs in Red and White
Speaking of triumph: It usually bears the colors red and white in the Downhill race on the Saslong. The only question is: is it striped or with a cross? Of the 52 previously held Downhill races on the Salsong, a total of 35 different athletes from nine countries have stood on the top of the podium with 31 of them hailing either from...
Austria or Switzerland, with the Austrian leading this eternally young ski duel at a ratio of 17:14. So it’s no surprise that Austrian Franz Klammer is the reigning Saslong record holder with four wins in the Downhill. However, he shares this title with Kristian Ghedina, who in 2001 captured Italy’s latest victory. The American Steven Nyman inched his way closer with last year’s victory. He now has three wins, at par with Switzerland’s Peter Müller.
Unlike the Super-G where Norwegians are clearly ahead with five victories including last year’s win of Kjetil Jansrud. Together with the Swiss (4) and the Austrians (3), they have won twelve of the 14 previously held Super-Gs on the Saslong. Only the American Bode Miller (2006) and local hero Werner Heel (2008) were able to break into the phalanx of the three nations. Thus, it’s also a Norwegian who is leading the number of wins in the Super-G: Aksel Lund Svindal with three victories, ahead of Austrian Michael Walchhofer with two.
