In Kranjska Gora

ÖSV winner about to make a comeback after a 783-day break

The last "regular" World Cup weekend could be a very special one for Christian Hirschbühl. There is a good chance that the 33-year-old from Vorarlberg will be able to compete in the slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, for the first time after an injury break of over two years.

Together they won bronze in the team combination at this year's Junior World Championships. Together, 20-year-old Jakob Greber from Mellau and 18-year-old Moritz Zudrell from Silbertal will travel to Scandinavia on Wednesday, where the European Cup will enter its final phase. "Two slaloms in Klaeppen, Sweden, are on the program on Sunday and Monday," reveals the "Rauch Young Racers" duo. Then it's on to Norway, where there will be a giant slalom on the 13th and 14th - where only Zudrell is likely to compete. "At the final in Hafjell on the 18th, I would also like to do the 'giant'," says slalom specialist Greber, who achieved his best EC result to date in Berchtesgaden (D) in January with eighth place.

Young guard in Scandinavia
As East Tyrolean Kilian Pramstaller, who finished 22nd in the slalom in Aspen, will also be hunting for points in the European Cup in Scandinavia over the next few days, a starting place in the ÖSV World Cup team is suddenly free. Now there are increasing signs that Christian Hirschbühl could make a comeback in the slalom in Kranjska Gora (Slo) - which was brought forward to Saturday after the giant slalom was canceled due to the weather.

Five operations in two years
The 33-year-old suffered a serious injury to his right leg during his last World Cup appearance to date in the slalom in Wengen (Sz) on January 16, 2022. 783 days and five operations later, the Flexenrace winner from November 2021 could return to the slopes. After his first days of skiing in January, he left a timetable open for his comeback, but made it clear: "When I get back in, I want to be back 100 percent." Now the chances are very good that this will happen on Saturday.