– It is completely indescribable, to put it briefly, says Steen Olsen to news. He is standing sweaty in the ski room and talking to news after driving to his first ever World Cup victory. And it came in the most dramatic way possible. Because after a wild second round, Steen Olsen took the lead, but he had to see himself beaten by Greek AJ Ginnis by one poor hundredth. But in what Ginnis had won, there was little joy to trace on the face of the Greek. Because as time went by, it emerged that the Greek with an American background had a gate pass in the final course that looked questionable, and after a long discussion in the jury room, the Greek was disqualified. Thus Steen Olsen was moved to first place, while Timon Haugan was moved to second place and secured double Norwegian. – It was really cool anyway because me and Timon were number two and three. So we were super stoked anyway, says Steen Olsen. TOP THREE: Timon Haugan, Alexsander Steen Olsen, Clement Noel and Albert Popov. Photo: SEAN M. HAFFEY / AFP Celebration at the hotel While Steen Olsen and Haugan went down to the plain and waited for the jury to decide, the discussion went on down on the plain among the athletes. On Viaplay’s broadcast, Lucas Braathen, among others, could clearly be heard saying that he had never experienced anything like this. – We talked about how it would have liked to have gone a little faster. But it’s better to get it done right than to rush it. It was a special situation, but that’s how it is sometimes, says Steen Olsen. DESPERATE: AJ Ginnis takes to his head after being disqualified from the win. Photo: SEAN M. HAFFEY / AFP Viaplay expert Kjetil André Aamodt was sure of his case long before the jury decided. This had to be disk. – I feel 99 per cent sure that we can congratulate Steen Olsen on his first World Cup victory, said Viaplay’s expert Kjetil André Aamodt while the jury was discussing. – I will be very surprised if he doesn’t become the discus. If he is not, the Norwegians must lodge a protest, added Aamodt. CELEBRATION: Alexsander Steen Olsen, Timon Haugan and Albert Popov celebrated with champagne. Photo: SEAN M. HAFFEY / AFP He was defeated, and Steen Olsen could let loose the jubilation. – I might get to celebrate a little at the hotel in San Francisco, it probably won’t be much, but we will celebrate a little, Norway’s new alpine newcomer smiles. – My goal this year was probably one top 10 position. I had not exactly envisioned a victory, adds Steen Olsen. A lot of snow created uncertainty. The Norwegian was twelfth after the first lap, and has made it his specialty to drive crazy second laps. In Chamonix earlier this year, he moved up 15 places. – I’ve also had some second rounds that haven’t been so good lately, but there’s something about knowing how far behind you are after first place. You know the conditions and the ground better, so you can give a little extra in the second round, says Steen Olsen. Steen Olsen’s best slalom placing before this race was 8th place – and the fourth place from the giant slalom in Schladming in January was the best record of his career in the World Cup before today’s victory. In the American Palisades Tahoe, dogs and cats also snowed, which made visibility difficult on the trail. But the Norwegian believes that was only an advantage for him. – I have raced in snowy weather before, so I just tried to look for the feeling I had then and hit the gas. When news spoke to him after the race, he was most excited about whether they even made it down the mountain, because it was still snowing heavily. – We barely got up because it was snowing so much. You never know, because it is snowing quite a lot, says the winner and adds: – But I think it will go well.
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Alexsander Steen Olsen with a sensational podium – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
