After mega catch-up race

ÖSV sensation beaming: “It’s unbelievable!”

Patrick Feurstein amazed everyone with his race to catch up.(Bild: GEPA)

What a hussar ride! Patrick Feurstein took advantage of the weather on Saturday in the giant slalom in Val d'Isere to jump from 24th place to his first career podium: "It's incredible that I'm standing there now!"

Val d'Isere is "always a bit crazy", beams Feuerstein after his sensational second place: "But today was even crazier for me personally!"

Patrick Feurstein(Bild: GEPA)

One week after his cousin Lukas Feurstein (super-G third in Beaver Creek), the 28-year-old also achieved a World Cup coup. "I always wanted to be on the podium. He showed me how it's done and it's cool when I can follow suit as a big cousin."

Just eight hundredths shy of victory
In the end, only superstar Marco Odermatt prevented a sensational triumph for Feurstein. With visibility deteriorating, the Swiss skier won with a mini lead of eight hundredths of a second. 

"I've been working towards this day my whole life, now it's finally here. It just feels incredibly good. I've imagined it so often in my mind. Standing on the podium next to the dominator of recent years in the giant slalom is super," said a delighted Feurstein, who had only made it into the top 10 once before this season after finishing fourth in the Alta Badia giant slalom in 2021. His third-placed ÖSV roommate Stefan Brennsteiner was delighted with him.