Alpine Skiing World Cup: AJ Ginnis loses victory after disqualification, Alexander Steen Olsen wins dramatic slalom

AJ Ginnis lost his maiden Alpine Skiing World Cup win in a dramatic slalom in Palisades Tahoe, with Alexander Steen Olsen instead taking his first victory. Ginnis went fastest in the second run, but appeared to straddle one of the gates. However, on the official timings, he was not disqualified.

Ad After a wait of 30 minutes, it was announced that Ginnis was disqualified and the victory went to Steen Olsen, with Timon Haugan taking second and joint-third between Albert Popov and Clement Noel. Palisades Tahoe, CA'It's so unbelievable' — Steen Olsen overjoyed after maiden slalom winAN HOUR AGO Lucas Braathen kept his lead in the slalom World Cup standings, despite finishing seventh. “It’s so unbelievable,” said Steen Olsen.

“I just don’t know what to say, it’s so crazy. “The visibility was a challenge but the conditions were OK. I just had to believe in myself and go for it." A very close first run saw Noel lead Daniel Yule by just 0.07 seconds with Linus Strasser in third at 0.11 seconds behind.

The top 10 were split by half a second with Britain’s Dave Ryding 1.13 seconds off the pace but down in joint-18th. Kritoffer Jakobsen had a disappointing opening run in 28th so went early when the top 30 were reversed for the second leg. Snowy conditions meant the start intervals were shortened and it was Jakobsen who set the early pace of a 1:48.27.

Popov took advantage of his Bulgarian coach setting the course to go 0.56 seconds quicker than the Swede. Slalom World Cup leader Braathen looked very tired and couldn’t beat Popov’s time, but limited the damage with a seventh place finish. By the halfway point of the second leg, Popov was still in the lead as the snow continued to fall heavily.