HEAD is the most successful ski brand of the World Championships

The HEAD World Cup Rebels caused a sensation at the Alpine World Ski Championships in Cortina, where they won seven of the twelve individual Gold medals - in all four speed discipline events, in both Giant Slaloms and in the men's Parallel event. The HEAD team also produced three double World Champions: Lara Gut-Behrami, Mathieu Faivre and Vincent Kriechmayr. A total of twelve medals went to the best ski brand at the World Championships.

"It was by far the most successful World Championships for us. It really did work out almost perfectly. We had already built up very strong performances in the World Cup in the weeks leading up to the Championships. All our athletes brought their top form to Cortina. If you win Gold medals seven times at events this close together, then it means we have our work cut out to stay at this level in the future. This will not be an easy task," explained HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber. "The highlights for me are our three double World Champions: Lara Gut-Behrami, Mathieu Faivre and Vincent Kriechmayr. Vincent Kriechmayr's performance has been great because he joined HEAD just before this season. To go straight ahead and win both speed discipline medals at once, that's really cool. Now we need two or three days to digest the results before taking on the next challenges waiting for us. I am looking forward to finishing this season well."

Gold in the opening Super-G for Lara Gut-Behrami

The HEAD World Cup Rebels had a perfect start to the World Championships. In the women's Super-G on the 11th of February, Lara Gut-Behrami won her first Gold Medal at a World Ski Championships. Finishing just behind the Swiss athlete, her compatriot and HEAD team-mate Corinne Suter secured Silver. Lara Gut-Behrami has already notched up 30 World Cup victories during her career. But the 29-year-old had yet to win a Gold medal at a World Championship. Her time came at the first competition of the World Championships in Cortina. Following four World Cup victories in a row in this discipline, she continued her run of success in Cortina. "I was quite nervous and just wanted to ski the best I can. That was the difference compared to my strategy in the past. I didn't dream of the Gold medal, I just wanted to show what I can do and that careers are not only measured in Gold medals," said Lara Gut-Behrami.

First World Championship Gold medal for Vincent Kriechmayr in Super-G

A few hours later Vincent Kriechmayr followed up with Gold in the men's Super-G. Bronze went to Alexis Pinturault. The Super-G was particularly spectacular thanks to an extremely challenging section on the upper part of the run. Vincent Kriechmayr, winner of the Super-G events in Kitzbühel and Garmisch, didn't let this unnerve him and crossed the finish line with the fastest time. "I was watching the bib numbers 1, 2 and 3 from the start, but they all dropped out on this section of the run. So it wasn't an easy situation. I figured I'd have to drift through it and hope it worked out somehow. It's the first time I have ever put in a 100-meter drift like that. That's what makes this sport so special; you have to improvise now and again in the Super-G. In the end I did very well," said the Austrian athlete.

Corinne Suter also celebrates her first World Championship Gold

Gold medals in the Super-G by Lara Gut-Behrami and Vincent Kriechmayr were followed by two more Golds in the Downhill competitions. Corinne Suter delivered a unique class of speed in the Downhill on the 13th of February to secure the Gold medal with an impressive run. "If I'm honest, it hasn't quite sunken in yet," said Corinne Suter. "I have to give a lot of the credit to my service man. He always does a 100 percent job. I was able to play to my strengths today and that really paid off." Lara Gut-Behrami had her sights set on a speed discipline double after winning Gold in the Super-G. She made a decisive mistake however, although the result was still good enough for Bronze.

Vincent Kriechmayr crowned king of the speed events

Vincent Kriechmayr is king of the speed events in the World Cup, bagging his second victory in Cortina on the 14th of February in the Downhill. The Austrian athlete started with bib number 1 in the Downhill. And held on to that position right until the end of the race. In 2019, the Austrian athlete won Bronze in the Downhill World Championship in Aare, and now Gold in Cortina. "It's difficult to take it all in. It was a crazy race. I skied really well at the top, but came out of my racing stance several times on the flatter sections. God was on my side today, I am very happy about my result", said Vincent Kriechmayr. The Bronze medal in the Downhill went to Beat Feuz from Switzerland, 18 hundredths of a second behind Kriechmayr.

Gold for Mathieu Faivre at World Championship début

In 2017 Mathieu Faivre won Gold in the Team event at the World Championships in St. Moritz. In Cortina the French athlete celebrated his first individual Gold medal in the Parallel Slalom on the 16th of February, the début appearance of this format at a World Championship. On his way to Gold, Mathieu Faivre beat Croatian athlete Filip Zubcic on the final run of the Parallel event. In the semi-final, the 29-year-old won against his HEAD team-mate Alexander Schmid from Germany, who finished fourth. "It was a long and very tiring day. I've been on the slope since 5:50 am. I'm happy with my skiing and now I'm World Champion in the Parallel event - that sounds great!", said a happy Mathieu Faivre. His compatriot Alexis Pinturault won his second medal in Cortina by following up Bronze in the Super-G with Silver in the Combined event on the 15th of February. In the Team event on the 17th of February, Norway won Gold with HEAD World Cup Rebel Fabian Wilkens Solheim.

Gold medal number two for Lara Gut-Behrami in the Giant Slalom

For Lara Gut-Behrami it was the most successful World Championship in her career. She followed up her Gold in the Super-G with another World Championship title on the 18th of February in the Giant Slalom. In addition, the Swiss athlete also took away from Cortina the Bronze medal in the Downhill. "I really wanted to win a medal in the Giant Slalom. This discipline means a lot to me. The fact that I was able to ski such a long Giant Slalom course so well makes me very happy. I like Cortina, and when I go home I will enjoy thinking about the great time I have had here," said Lara Gut-Behrami.

Double World Champion Mathieu Faivre

Mathieu Faivre also bagged two World Championship titles in Cortina. Having won the Gold medal in the Parallel event, the French athlete also triumphed in his showpiece discipline, the Giant Slalom, on the 19th of February. After the first run the 29-year-old was in fourth place. "It's still hard to believe what happened today. It wasn't as easy to enjoy because of Alexis dropping out. But I'm proud of the way I skied. I felt very good on the skis," said Mathieu Faivre. Alexis Pinturault dropped out on the second run after clocking the fastest time on an outstanding first run.

Ted Ligety - one of the greatest ski athletes - finishes his career

Ted Ligety, one of the greatest ski athletes, announced during the World Championships that he is ending his career. The American athlete wanted the last race of his career to be the Giant Slalom in Cortina on Friday. Back pain, however, prevented him from competing. During his highly successful career, Ted Ligety won two Olympic Gold medals in the Giant Slalom and Combined event and is five-time World Champion. In 2013 he was crowned king of the World Championships in Schladming with three Gold medals in the Giant Slalom, Super-G and Combined event. Aka Mr. Giant Slalom, he dominated this discipline for many years and won the Crystal Globe five times. Ted Ligety also won a Combined event World Cup. The 36-year-old notched up 25 World Cup victories - 24 in the Giant Slalom, and one in the Combined event.

"Thank you Ted for an amazing time together. You defined the perfect turn and also the perfect teamwork. You retire as a great hero and I wish you the best for your next career, which I am sure will be a success no matter what you decide to do. We miss you already!" emphasised HEAD CEO Johan Eliasch.

The individual World Championship medals won by the HEAD World Cup Rebels

Gold

Women's Super-G: Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI)

Men's Super-G: Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT)

Women's Downhill: Corinne Suter (SUI)

Men's Downhill: Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT)

Men's Parallel Slalom: Mathieu Faivre (FRA)

Women's Giant Slalom: Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI)

Men's Giant Slalom: Mathieu Faivre (FRA)

Silver

Women's Super G: Corinne Suter (SUI)

Men's Combined event: Alexis Pinturault (FRA)

Bronze

Men's Super G: Alexis Pinturault (FRA)

Women's Downhill: Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI)

Men's Downhill: Beat Feuz (SUI)