Obereggen brings good luck, everyone wants to imitate Steen Olsen

Obereggen brings good luck

The countdown to the first European Cup slalom of the season has begun in Obereggen. On Thursday, Dec. 15, straddling the World Cup slaloms in Val d’Isere and Madonna di Campiglio, it will be the turn of the European Cup slalom in Obereggen, a venue with the longest tradition in European Cup racing and already dubbed the “Kitzbühel of the European Cup.”

The first edition took place back in 1983. The Obereggen slalom every year is a “half World Cup,” given the completely unusual starting list for a European Cup race. Many promising talents, but also some emblazoned champions will be at the start again this year. Why this special role? Obereggen is perfectly positioned in the calendar at the beginning of the season, when top athletes need races to find their form and thus make (unusual) appearances in the European Cup as well. Obereggen is practically in the path between two World Cup slaloms, the Val d’Isere slalom four days earlier and the Madonna di Campiglio slalom exactly one week later. Also close to Obereggen will be the two giant slaloms in Alta Badia on December 18 and 19.

Obereggen brings good luck. After his triumph in Obereggen, 20-year-old Norwegian Alexander Steen Olsen also won the European Cup slalom ranking and thus a permanent spot for the 2022/23 World Cup season. He also went on to win two golds at the World Junior Championships, namely those in slalom and giant slalom. Steen Olsen has the makings of a white circus great in a few years.