Raphael Haaser is World Champion


Raphael Haaser has reached the goal of his dreams and has made the impossible possible with a performance that can hardly be put into words: the Austrian has been crowned world champion in giant slalom, the supreme discipline in alpine skiing, in Saalbach, Austria. And just a few days after winning the silver medal in the Super G.

2025-02-14

Who would have thought a few days ago, when we proudly reported on Raphael Haaser's sensational silver medal in the Super G, that we would be back here just seven days later with an even bigger sensation to report. Raphael Haaser continues his winning streak of recent weeks and is crowned world champion in his home country in the supreme discipline of alpine skiing: the giant slalom.

But the omens were anything but good. The man from Achensee missed a large part of the season so far with a cruciate ligament injury and was only able to celebrate his comeback two weeks before the World Championships. However, he did so more than impressively with a second place in the Super G in Kitzbühel. But then, one day before his first start at the World Championships, came the next piece of bad news. His sister Ricarda Haaser tore her cruciate ligament in the women's Super G, had to go to hospital and undergo surgery on the same day.

For Raphi Haaser, however, this seemed to trigger more of a “now more than ever” attitude, as he drove like he was unleashed in the Super G. You can find a more detailed race report here. 
In contrast to the Super G, Haaser was given little or no chance of a podium in the giant slalom. With bib number 22, the Tyrolean also went into the race with a considerable mortgage. We were able to meet Haaser in the start area and even there he made an extremely relaxed and easy-going, but at the same time focused and determined impression. Even the quick retirement of his favored brand and Nations colleague Stefan Brennsteiner could not upset him.

And so Haaser started the race with the aforementioned bib number 22, in light snowfall and not quite optimal visibility. But with the security of the silver medal behind him and a mercilessly good line choice, it was clear after just a few split times that the Tyrolean was on the right track. In every sector, Haaser was only just behind the performance of the leader Timon Haugan from Norway and so in the end a pleasing time of +0.62 seconds and fifth place was on the scoreboard in the Saalbach finish stadium. A first interim success!

The tension in the finish stadium increased, as Haaser was also the Austrian fans' last hope for a good result for their team. With a solid start and a fantastic middle and final section, the man from Achensee actually catapulted himself into the lead and the stadium in Saalbach shook. And now incredible things were to follow: Rider after rider, the other athletes were biting their teeth out at Haaser's time. First Steen Olson (NOR), then Odermatt (SUI), then Meillard (SUI) and finally Haugan (NOR) did not manage a new best time and so the sensation was perfect.

Raphael Haaser is therefore the new giant slalom world champion. His first ever victory in this discipline should therefore give him the world championship title straight away, what a story! The podium was completed by the strong Swiss Thomas Tumler and Loic Meillard. Haaser was visibly moved and first had to collect himself for a few seconds, but then the jubilation was great and a long and busy day for Haaser with autographs, interviews, award ceremonies and parties began. A sacrifice that he was certainly happy to make in view of this success.