First technical discipline podium for Emma Aicher

Emma Aicher continues her run of success into the new season. The 22-year-old German athlete, who celebrated her first World Cup victories in the Downhill and Super-G in the spring of 2025, finishes third in the Slalom in Levi on Saturday, her first podium in a technical discipline. British HEAD Worldcup Rebel Laurie Taylor misses his first podium by just four hundredths of a second on Sunday in the men's Slalom in Levi.

"Starting the Slalom season the way Emma Aicher has is simply brilliant and gives her a lot of confidence. Following her victories in the speed disciplines last season, this podium in the Slalom really underlines how strong she is. She has what it takes to get top results in the Slalom as well. She is a very cool Slalom skier who performs to a high technical level. Reaching the podium in a third discipline makes this all the sweeter," says HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber. "Zita Toth bagged the first-ever World Cup points in the Slalom for Hungary. Dzenifera Germane celebrated a sensational return to the World Cup following a one-year break. She skied really well. I reckon she can also perform in a way similar to Emma Aicher. Building on the women's success, the men also put in an excellent effort. Twelve HEAD Worldcup Rebels qualified for the second run. Never before have we reached such a high level in the Slalom. Laurie Taylor's four hundredths of a second were a pity. Atle Lie McGrath unfortunately misjudged a gate, but that can happen to anyone. Linus Straßer demonstrated what is possible by landing in fourth place on the first run. We can continue to build on these results. The HEAD team are in high spirits as we travel to the next competitions."

"I can ski without overthinking it"

Emma Aicher was in seventh place after the first run. Clocking the fourth-fastest time on the second run put her on the podium. Previously, her best result in a technical discipline was sixth place in the Slalom in Sestriere in February 2025. In spring 2025, the German athlete had already made a big impression with her victories in the Downhill in Kvitfjell and the Super-G in La Thuile. "I am super happy and didn't expect that. I prepared well, but I wasn't one of the best during training. So I'm delighted. I was very composed today, even by my standards. I'm not often nervous. I'm glad I can ski without overthinking it," said Emma Aicher at the finish.

Lena Dürr just misses the podium

Lena Dürr finished fourth, just missing the podium. The 34-year-old German athlete has already finished in the top three five times in Levi. The HEAD Worldcup Rebels in the top fifteen also included Wendy Holdener from Switzerland in eighth place, Anna Swenn-Larsson and Sara Hector from Sweden in eleventh and twelfth place, and Camille Rast from Switzerland, who finished 15th. Cornelia Öhlund from Sweden was 18th, Dzenifera Germane from Latvia was 21st, having clocked the fifth-fastest time in the second run, and Zita Toth from Hungary was 25th. The 23-year-old started with bib number 60 and picked up World Cup points for the first time.

Clocking the fastest second run to land in fourth place

There was another close result in the men's Slalom on Sunday. Laurie Taylor missed his first World Cup podium by just four hundredths of a second. The British athlete started with bib number 32 and went into the second run in 15th place. Skiing the fastest second run by miles moved the 29-year-old up to fourth place. So far, Laurie Taylor's best result was eighth place in the Slalom in Aspen in March 2024.

Three British HEAD Worldcup Rebels win World Cup points

Paco Rassat celebrated his best World Cup result so far. The French athlete finished the race in sixth place after skiing the fifth fastest time on the second run. Dave Ryding from Great Britain was seventh. World Cup points were also picked up by Tobias Kastlunger from Italy in twelfth place, Linus Straßer from Germany, who was 15th, Albert Popov from Bulgaria, 23rd, Johannes Strolz from Austria, 24th, Cooper Puckett from the USA, 26th, Billy Major from Britain, 27th, and Yohei Koyama from Japan, 28th. There were a total of three British HEAD Worldcup Rebels who won points: Laurie Taylor, Dave Ryding and Billy Major. Cooper Puckett qualified for the second run with the highest bib number of 69.