"Trick" brought success

Sölden triumphant skier relied on the “miracle binding”

Alexander Steen Olsen and Federica Brignone cheered at the start in Sölden.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

What do young Viking Alexander Steen Olsen and the experienced Italian Federica Brignone have in common? That's right! Both triumphed at the World Cup start in Sölden and were on French Rossignol skis. On closer inspection, however, it was noticeable that both Brignone and Steen Olsen relied on a "trick" that tinkerer Marcel Hirscher had already practiced in his first career.

Back then, Hirscher used a product from Marker instead of his own Atomic bindings. "We are developing a new binding system," Rossignol race director Stephane Mougin told the online portal "skinews.ch". "Until this is ready for use, our top athletes are allowed to use Marker bindings as they are the most similar to our own system."

Federica Brignone used Marker bindings for her victory in Sölden.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

A trick that Marcel Hirscher once used in his first career.(Bild: AFP or licensors)

Alexander Steen Olsen also relied on a Marker product.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Julia Scheib - who skied to third place in Sölden with a Rossignol binding - cheered with Brignone. Naturally, a Rossignol binding was mounted on the presentation ski.(Bild: REUTERS)

In addition to the winners, Rossignol aces Thea Louise Stjernesund (Nor/6th) and Zan Kranjec (Slo/6th) were also at the start in Sölden with Marker bindings. Unlike the red-white-red Rossingol racers. But Julia Scheib in third place as well as Kathi Liensberger and Patrick Feurstein - who both finished eighth - proved that they are also lightning fast with the "old" Rossignol bindings.

Incidentally, it wasn't just the French who relied on Marker in Sölden - Fischer aces such as Raphael Haaser and Stefan Brennsteiner also had the "wonder binding" screwed on.