HEAD World Cup Rebels are the best ski team in the world

The finals in Lenzerheide saw one of the most successful seasons in HEAD's history draw to a close. With seven World Championship Gold medals, one overall World Cup Crystal Globe and four World Cup discipline Crystal Globes, as well as 19 World Cup victories, the HEAD World Cup Rebels delivered a unique class of performance. As confirmed by the FIS brand ranking - they are the best ski team in the world.

"First of all, it was very positive that we were able to pull off this season the way we did. Special thanks go to the FIS and the ÖSV, who set the stage for this challenging season with the opening in Sölden and the races in Lech/Zürs," emphasised HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber. "Winning the men's overall World Cup was an ambitious target. The fact that we have now managed it was the absolute highlight of this season for me. We also fought until the very end for the women's overall Crystal Globe in the World Cup. As a competition, the World Championships were first class. We experienced so many positive emotions during those two weeks in Cortina. I have been HEAD Racing Director since 2005. This has been our best season during that period. I would like to thank everyone who has worked on developing the skis, bindings and boots. We have evolved a lot on all the components and raised the bar in terms of speed. The results show that staying on the ball is the right way to go. We will analyse everything again over the next few days. And with the experience we've gained, we will be optimising the equipment again to make sure we prepare as well as we can for the new season."

Seven of the twelve World Championship Gold individual medals went to HEAD

It was one of many highlights this season for the HEAD World Cup Rebels. At the World Championships, which were held from the 8th to 21st of February in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the HEAD team 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 with Lara Gut-Behrami from Switzerland, Mathieu Faivre from France and Vincent Kriechmayr from Austria. A total of twelve medals went to the best ski brand at the World Championships.

Alexis Pinturault wins two World Cup titles on his birthday

Alexis Pinturault gave himself two very special presents for his 30th birthday at the final weekend of the World Cup in Lenzerheide. Following his victory in the final Giant Slalom in Lenzerheide and with 700 points from ten races, the French athlete secured not only the World Cup in this discipline but also, having notched up a total of 1260 points, the Crystal Globe as the overall winner of the World Cup for the first time in his career. "There was a lot of emotion involved. I've been under a lot of pressure over the past few weeks. I knew I shouldn't think about it too much, but it's not easy. I tried to focus only on myself. It was one of my best performances ever. It was the greatest ambition of my career. I've been second many times, but today I did it," said a delighted Alexis Pinturault, who went on to bag another podium slot after finishing in third place in the final Slalom event in Lenzerheide. The 30-year-old celebrated a total of five victories this season - four in the Giant Slalom and one in the Parallel Giant Slalom. Mathieu Faivre, winner of the Giant Slalom in Bansko, finished fifth in the Giant Slalom World Cup and Justin Murisier from Switzerland was tenth. In addition to Alexis Pinturault and Mathieu Faivre, other podium finishes in the Giant Slalom were achieved by Tommy Ford from the USA in second place in Santa Caterina, Atle Lie McGrath from Norway with his World Cup podium debut in second place in Alta Badia, and Justin Murisier - also on the podium for the first time - in third place in Alta Badia. Alexander Schmid from Germany finished third in the Parallel Giant Slalom in Lech/Zürs.

The HEAD World Cup Rebels win three of the four speed skiing titles

All the speed events - both the Downhill competitions and the Super-G races - had to be cancelled at the final of the World Cup in Lenzerheide due to the weather conditions. This meant that in the speed disciplines, not only all four World Championship titles went to the HEAD World Cup Rebels, but also three of the four World Cup Crystal Globes: Beat Feuz (Downhill), Lara Gut-Behrami (Super-G) and Vincent Kriechmayr (Super-G).

Fourth Downhill Crystal Globe in a row for Beat Feuz

Beat Feuz has won the Downhill World Cup for the fourth time in a row. With 486 points, the Swiss athlete ultimately had a 68-point lead over his HEAD team-mate Matthias Mayer. "Four times in a row - you can see from the statistics that it doesn't happen that often. That certainly makes it a bit more special," explains Beat Feuz. Fourth and fifth place in the Downhill standings also went to the HEAD team with Johan Clarey from France and Vincent Kriechmayr from Austria. Beat Feuz stood on top of the podium in both Kitzbühel Downhill races this season - they were his first victories in this discipline on the Hahnenkamm run and his eleventh and twelfth Downhill wins overall. The 34-year-old finished in the top-three in three of the season's seven Downhill events: second in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Saalbach-Hinterglemm and third in Val Gardena. Another real HEAD highlight this season was the team's triple victory in the second Downhill race in Kitzbühel, with Beat Feuz, Johan Clarey and Matthias Mayer finishing first, second and third.

Two World Championship Gold medals and the Crystal Globe in Super-G for Vincent Kriechmayr

Vincent Kriechmayr celebrated the most successful season of his career. The Austrian athlete, who switched to HEAD just before the start of this season, has won his first Crystal Globe in the Super-G, following his two World Championship Gold medals in the Downhill and Super-G in Cortina. The 29-year-old was unbeatable in two Super-G races this season - in Kitzbühel and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He finished second in Bormio and third in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Matthias Mayer finished third overall in the Super-G with a second place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and a third place in Kitzbühel. Seventh place went to Norway's Kjetil Jansrud.

Lara Gut-Behrami secured her third Crystal Globe in the Super-G in Val di Fassa

The women's Super-G World Cup was already decided by Lara Gut-Behrami before the final in Lenzerheide. With her second place in Val di Fassa, the 29-year-old already had her name on the Crystal Globe. The double World Champion in Cortina delivered an impressive series of wins in the Super-G four races in a row: she stood on top of the podium in St. Anton, Crans Montana and twice in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This is her third Crystal Globe in the Super-G after 2014 and 2016. With a total of six victories, nobody else in the HEAD team won more races than the Swiss athlete this season. In the World Cup overall ranking she took second place. Third place in the Super-G ranking went to Corinne Suter, who celebrated two podium finishes in the Super-G this season (second in Val d'Isere, third in Val di Fassa).

First podium finish for Kajsa Vickhoff Lie from Norway

Kajsa Vickhoff Lie from Norway and Marie-Michele Gagnon from Canada also had reason to celebrate. At the first Super-G in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the HEAD team celebrated a brilliant triple victory with Lara Gut-Behrami, Kajsa Vickhoff Lie and Marie-Michele Gagnon finishing first, second and third. Kajsa Vickhoff Lie's World Cup podium finish was the first in her career. For Marie-Michele Gagnon it was her first podium finish in the Super-G and her first result in the top three since her success in the Combined event in Soldeu in February 2016. In the overall ranking in the Super-G, Kajsa Vickhoff Lie was seventh and Elena Curtoni was tenth.

Corinne Suter and Lara Gut-Behrami in second and third place overall in the Downhill discipline

In the Downhill competition the two HEAD World Cup Rebels Corinne Suter and Lara Gut-Behrami were robbed of the chance to win the Crystal Globe on their home run in Lenzerheide due to the event being cancelled. This left the Swiss athletes in second and third place in the final Downhill standings. Lara Gut-Behrami won the two Downhill races in Val di Fassa and finished second in Crans Montana. Downhill World Champion Corinne Suter won the opening race in Val d'Isere, finished second twice (Val d'Isere and Val di Fassa) and was third once (Val di Fassa). Sixth place overall in the Downhill went to Laura Pirovano from Italy, and eighth place to her compatriot Elena Curtoni, who bagged a podium finish in third place in Crans Montana.

Wendy Holdener raced to the podium three times in the Slalom

In the Slalom rankings, Wendy Holdener finished in fifth place overall. The Swiss athlete has bagged three podium finishes this season - with third places in Flachau, Jasna and Aare. Sixth place in the overall Slalom ranking went to Lena Dürr from Germany. In the men's competition, Alexis Pinturault also reached the podium three times in the Slalom. Finishing third in Flachau, Schladming and Lenzerheide, he took seventh place overall in the Slalom rankings. In the women's Giant Slalom ranking, Lara Gut-Behrami was the best HEAD World Cup Rebel finishing in seventh place overall. In the race in Kronplatz, the Swiss athlete finished second. Sara Hector from Sweden celebrated finishing in second place in the Giant Slalom in Courchevel.

Twelve World Championship medals at the World Ski Championships in Cortina

On the 11th of February in Cortina, the HEAD World Cup Rebels had a perfect start to the World Championships. In the women's Super-G, Lara Gut-Behrami won her first Gold Medal at a World Championships. Finishing just behind the Swiss athlete, her compatriot Corinne Suter bagged the Silver medal. A few hours later Vincent Kriechmayr followed up with Gold in the men's Super-G. Bronze went to Alexis Pinturault. 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. Lara Gut-Behrami had her sights set on double Gold in the speed disciplines following her Gold medal in the Super-G. She made a decisive mistake, however, although the result was still good enough for Bronze.

Vincent Kriechmayr - king of speed at the World Championships

Vincent Kriechmayr is the king of the speed events in the World Championships, having bagged his second victory in Cortina on the 14th of February in the Downhill. The Bronze medal in the Downhill went to Beat Feuz from Switzerland, 18 hundredths of a second behind Kriechmayr. 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 debut appearance of this format at a World Championship. 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.

Lara Gut-Behrami and Mathieu Faivre are double World Champions

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. 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.

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. 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.

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

Gold (7)

• 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 (2)

• Women's Super-G: Corinne Suter (SUI)
• Men's Combined event: Alexis Pinturault (FRA)

Bronze (3)

• Men's Super-G: Alexis Pinturault (FRA)
• Women's Downhill: Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI)
• Men's Downhill: Beat Feuz (SUI)
• Alexis Pinturault (FRA)

World Cup results

Overall Winner - Crystal Globe (1)

Discipline Winner - Crystal Globe (4)

• Beat Feuz (SUI) – Downhill
• Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) – Super-G
• Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) – Super-G
• Alexis Pinturault (FRA) – Giant Slalom

World Cup podium finishes in the 2020/21 season

1st places (19)

• Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) 6: Super-G St. Anton Jan. 10, Super-G Crans Montana Jan. 24, Super-G Garmisch-Partenkirchen Jan. 30, Super-G Garmisch-Partenkirchen Feb. 01, Downhill Val di Fassa Feb. 26, Downhill Val di Fassa Feb. 27.
• Alexis Pinturault (FRA) 5: Parallel Giant Slalom Lech/Zürs Nov. 27, Giant Slalom Alta Badia Dec. 20, Giant Slalom Alta Badia Jan 08, Giant Slalom Alta Badia Jan. 09, Giant Slalom Lenzerheide Mar. 20.
• Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) 3: Super-G Kitzbühel Jan. 25, Super-G Garmisch-Partenkirchen Feb. 06, Downhill Saalbach-Hinterglemm Mar. 06.
• Beat Feuz (SUI) 2: Downhill Kitzbühel Jan. 22, Downhill Kitzbühel Jan. 24.
• Corinne Suter (SUI) 1: Downhill Val d'Isere Dec. 18.
• Matthias Mayer (AUT) 1: Downhill Bormio Dec. 30.
• Mathieu Faivre (FRA) 1: Giant Slalom Bansko Jan. 28.

2nd places (18)

• Corinne Suter (SUI) 3: Downhill Val d'Isere Dec. 19, Super-G Val d'Isere Dec. 20, Downhill Val di Fassa Feb. 27.
• Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) 3: Downhill Crans Montana Jan. 23, Giant Slalom Kronplatz Jan. 26, Super-G Val di Fassa Feb. 28.
• Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) 2: Super-G Bormio Dec. 29, Downhill Bormio Dec. 30.
• Matthias Mayer (AUT) 2: Downhill Kitzbühel Jan. 22, Super-G Garmisch-Partenkirchen Feb. 06.
• Beat Feuz (SUI) 2: Downhill Garmisch-Partenkirchen Feb. 05, Downhill Saalbach-Hinterglemm Mar. 06.
• Sara Hector (SWE) 1: Giant Slalom Courchevel Dec. 12.
• Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR) 1: Super-G Garmisch-Partenkirchen Jan. 30.
• Tommy Ford (USA) 1: Giant Slalom Santa Caterina Dec. 07.
• Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) 1: Giant Slalom Alta Badia Dec. 20.
• Johan Clarey (FRA) 1: Downhill Kitzbühel Jan. 24.
• Mathieu Faivre (FRA) 1: Giant Slalom Bansko Feb. 27.

3rd places (21)

• Matthias Mayer (AUT) 4: Downhill Kitzbühel Jan. 24, Super-G Kitzbühel Jan. 25, Downhill Garmisch-Partenkirchen Feb. 05, Downhill Saalbach-Hinterglemm Mar. 06.
• Alexis Pinturault (FRA) 3: Slalom Flachau Jan. 17, Slalom Schladming Jan. 26, Giant Slalom Bansko Feb. 28, Slalom Lenzerheide Mar. 21.
• Wendy Holdener (SUI) 3: Slalom Flachau Jan. 12, Slalom Jasna Mar. 06, Slalom Aare Mar. 13.
• Corinne Suter (SUI) 2: Downhill Val di Fassa Feb. 26, Super-G Val di Fassa Feb. 28.
• Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) 1: Parallel Giant Slalom Lech/Zürs Nov. 26.
• Marie-Michele Gagnon (CAN) 1: Super-G Garmisch-Partenkirchen Jan. 30.
• Alexander Schmid (GER) 1: Parallel Giant Slalom Lech/Zürs Nov. 27.
• Kjetil Jansrud (NOR) 1: Super-G Val Gardena Dec. 18.
• Beat Feuz (SUI) 1: Downhill Val Gardena Dec. 19.
• Justin Murisier (SUI) 1: Giant Slalom Alta Badia Dec. 20.
• Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) 1: Super-G Saalbach-Hinterglemm Mar. 07.
• Mathieu Faivre (FRA) 1: Giant Slalom Lenzerheide Mar. 20.