Paris Completes Kvitfjell Double As Odermatt Clinches Super G Crystal Globe

Dominik Paris simply does not stop. One day after delivering a masterclass in the season-closing downhill, the 36-year-old Italian veteran returned to the Olympiabakken on Sunday and did it all again — winning the Super G to complete a stunning back-to-back double at the World Cup Finals in Kvitfjell.

Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr took second place, with compatriot Raphael Haaser rounding out the podium in third. For Paris, it was yet another chapter added to an already extraordinary personal record at a venue he has made his own.

Paris is now the all-time record holder for men's World Cup victories at Kvitfjell — and on this weekend's evidence, he shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.

Using his trademark strength and power, Paris skied masterfully from top to bottom, delivering the kind of clean, forceful run that has defined his best performances over a remarkable career. He set up the victory with a blistering upper section, carrying speed through the middle and leaving his rivals without an answer.

"It was a superb run by Vincent Kriechmayr – almost unbelievable that it wasn't enough for victory. Dominik Paris seems to be the expert here in Kvitfjell," said HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber. "Looking back, it's a shame that so many races were cancelled this season, otherwise things could have turned out quite differently. But it was a good season in the Super-G, and there is plenty to look forward to next time.

"I know that you have to push from the top to the bottom, and you have to not be too hard on the skis, but searching for a good line to bring always the speed," Paris said after the race. 'It feels great. I was a bit surprised today but amazing. It’s nice to be the best on this hill but a bit sorry Kjetil (Jansrud, the Norwegian who won seven times in Kvitfjell) he cannot defend it any more so maybe he thinks about the comeback! It’s cool, so much success on this hill is amazing."

That formula has now produced two victories in 24 hours on the same mountain. Saturday's finish was Paris's 20th downhill victory in his career, and Sunday's Super G triumph adds to a resume that puts him firmly among the legends of Alpine speed racing.

The subplot of the day was the globe, and the globe belongs to Marco Odermatt — even if Sunday's race itself was one he will want to forget quickly. The Swiss superstar struggled from the outset, slipping his outside ski at the very first transition, coming too directly onto the following gate and being forced to compensate. He never found rhythm through the middle section, ultimately finishing 19th and failing to collect World Cup points.

None of it mattered in the bigger picture. Odermatt had already clinched the Super G discipline title for the fourth consecutive season before a single gate was set on Sunday, after unfavourable weather had forced the cancellation of the final pre-Finals Super G race at Courchevel the previous weekend.

Odermatt also added the downhill globe earlier this season and is in a strong position to win the giant slalom title at the Finals on Tuesday, meaning a clean sweep of the speed and all-round disciplines remains firmly in his sights.

The Swiss star was philosophical after missing the podium. "I am not disappointed, for sure not, but also for sure, I wanted to be a little faster today to finish the season on a podium," he said, reflecting on what has nonetheless been yet another season of total dominance.

"I had a nearly perfect season start. For me, skiing at the beginning of the season is always a lot of fun, we have great conditions then, I am hungry for every race. For me, the season start was very important to collect a lot of points, more than the end of the season."

While the headlines belonged to Paris and Odermatt, Austria had plenty to celebrate. Kriechmayr's second place was a fitting reward for a skier who has been a consistent podium threat throughout the speed season, and Haaser's third place was arguably the result of his career — a reward for a clean, committed run that cut through the softening spring snow with precision and confidence.

The conditions made error-free skiing a premium. The combination of a shortened course and varying snow surface meant being completely clean was crucial — and only Paris and Kriechmayr truly nailed it from top to bottom.

For Paris, this weekend caps what he himself has described as a rollercoaster campaign — difficult stretches in winter bookended by a triumphant finish in Norway. "Overall, I'm really happy," he said. "There are the Olympics, some wins, but also some downs — so there are still a lot of things to improve."

Few could quibble with a weekend like this one, though. Two races, two victories, and a record on a course he loves above all others. Dominik Paris came to Kvitfjell one last time this season — and, as ever, he made it count.