After the ÖSV sensation:

“This is what you work towards your whole life!”

Lukas Feurstein skied sensationally to third place and was duly celebrated afterwards.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Vorarlberg's Lukas Feurstein raced onto the podium for the first time at his premiere on the "Birds of Prey" on Saturday - 3rd place in the Beaver Creek super-G! "This is what you work towards your whole life," said the ÖSV sensation jubilantly. Meanwhile, Marco Odermatt equaled Hannes Reichelt's win record with his 38th World Cup success.

The "Krone" reports from Beaver Creek

"Simply mega, I don't know what to say!" Yes, even the usually eloquent Lukas Feurstein was lost for words. The man from Vorarlberg seized the moment and raced to third place on the podium for the first time yesterday in the technically demanding super-G in Beaver Creek. Previously, he had never finished better than sixth in the World Cup. "This is a childhood dream come true," beamed the 23-year-old, who raced on the "Birds of Prey" for the first time and took Austria's first men's podium of the still young season. "This is something you work towards your whole life - it's satisfying and I'm also happy for my family, who have invested a lot in it."

Lukas Feurstein celebrates his third place.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Teammate Vincent Kriechmayr also nodded appreciatively at the finish: "Hats off, a really cool run." However, the Upper Austrian himself was annoyed with his own performance, complaining: "I just didn't ski well, not at the limit at all, far too passive - you just don't win anything down there like that." Although the result was still okay - after fifth place the day before in the downhill, he ultimately finished sixth. "That's certainly not what I'm after."

The "Krone" congratulated at the finish.

(Bild: „Krone“)

"A challenge"
 The speed dominators of the past season were not to be beaten yesterday - Marco Odermatt tamed the predatory slope best, put down a hussar ride - and celebrated his 38th World Cup victory, his 13th in a super-G. And his third in the Beaver Creek super-G, breaking Hannes Reichelt's record. "It's the most technical super-G of the whole year - you have to step on the gas, but also ski smart. It was a challenge," said the Swiss racer, who relegated Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin to second place.

In a race that was characterized by many retirements, Raphael Haaser, who was the absolute fastest in the top section, was also caught out: "It doesn't help me, in the end it's my own fault if I drive straight into it," said the Tyrolean. Stefan Babinsky also dropped out, saying: "I'm on tenterhooks - the speed is there, now I just have to prove it."

"Truncated team" in the giant slalom
Ideally today in the giant slalom - which Kriechmayr and Feurstein will be competing in alongside Haaser and Babinsky. They will be joined by Stefan Brennsteiner and Patrick Feurstein - due to injury concerns (Manuel Feller and Marco Schwarz) and European Cup races taking place at the same time, the ÖSV will only be taking six of the eight starting places available.