Linus Straßer said goodbye to the short Christmas break with a smile. “Now I’m looking forward to the quiet days at home with the baby, wife and family,” said the German ski racer after the brilliant end of a week that was moving for him. A few days after becoming a father for the first time, the man from Munich raced to third place in the victory of Swiss Daniel Yule in the Madonna di Campiglio night slalom.
It was the ninth podium in a World Cup individual race in his career. And one that Straßer himself probably didn’t really expect. In 2020 he finished sixth in Madonna di Campiglio. On several occasions, however, he has also ridden behind on one of the most demanding slalom slopes on the Alpine World Cup calendar. In the first slalom this winter, Straßer finished 13th in Val d’Isère, France.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough to win,” said the 30-year-old after his two strong runs. But third place also feels “incredibly beautiful”. “I don’t know when was the last time I was personally so proud of myself,” said Straßer. He had skied well before, but the speed was a bit lacking. Sometimes you just have to get it in the race, he explained. “That’s what I did. I did exactly what I wanted to do.” Strasser’s anticipation for the short breather is all the greater – and the night slalom that follows in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on January 4th.
