Ramon Zenhaeusern wins tricky men's slalom in Chamonix as Greece's Ginnis makes podium

Switzerland's Ramon Zenhaeusern is finally back on the top step of an Alpine Ski World Cup podium.

After struggling through a 2021/22 season beset by injury and mental health concerns, Zenhaeursen won a difficult men's slalom race in Chamonix, France, on Saturday (4 February) for his first World Cup race victory since December 2020 to put much of last season's demons to rest.

The triumph was made all the more special as the Swiss was the only man of the top first-run skiers to conquer a difficult course set for the afternoon's second run, and also overcome rutted snow.

Indeed, that AJ Ginnis of Greece – securing just his fourth World Cup finish from 44 starts, from 23rd position after the morning's first descent – claimed a shock second place was testament to just how difficult many of the later skiers found conditions.

Ginnis was the early leader in the second run, having taken to the Verte slope eighth in the afternoon.

As conditions grew tougher, the Greek – who previously represented the US ski team until 2021 – watched on incredulously as skier after skier failed to beat his time, struggling with conditions. That included Britain's Dave Ryding and Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway, who straddled a gate in the second sector.

Switzerland's Daniel Yule, the third-to-last man down the track, took an impressive 1.36-second lead on Ginnis into his run, but a sloppy finish saw him miss out by four-hundredths of a second, guaranteeing Ginnis a podium place – the Greek's previous best had been 11th at Flachau in 2021.

But then came Zenhaeusern, who skied the opening sector – where many had lost chunks of time – aggressively to lose only a few hundredths from his lead. He skied a calm, calculated race, not taking too many risks, and eventually made it to the line in a combined time of 1:42.94, 1.02 seconds ahead of Ginnis.

And when first-run leader and Olympic champion Clement Noel slid off piste before straddling a gate as he tried to get back on track, the celebrations for both Zenhaeusern and Ginnis could begin.

"It was amazing, the second run was a tricky one, it was difficult," Zenhaeusern told FIS TV after the race. "I managed to ski in a flow and it's just amazing. The World Championships begin from zero, so I enjoy now the moment (before) the World Champs (which) are in two weeks."

The men's slalom at those Alpine Ski World Championships take place in Courchevel, France, on 19 February.

In the World Cup standings, Norway's Lucas Braathen – who skipped the race to recover from appendix surgery – remains in the lead, with Yule's third place finish propelling him past Kristoffersen into second, 36 points behind Braathen. With none of the top overall skiers participating or scoring points in Chamonix, Marco Odermatt's Crystal Globe lead remains at 313 points from Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.

Results, Chamonix men's slalom, 4 February 2023

1. Ramon Zenhaeusern (SUI) 1:42.94
2. AJ Ginnis (GRE) +1.02
3. Daniel Yule (SUI) +1.06
4. Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) +1.38
5. Sebastian Foss-Solevaag (NOR) +1.40
6. Linus Strasser (GER) +1.47
7. Jett Seymour (USA) +1.65
8. Alex Vinatzer (ITA) +1.77