Unheralded French skier Paco Rassat secured his maiden World Cup victory in Gurgl, Austria, with a remarkable performance in the second slalom event of the season. Rassat’s win followed a sixth-place finish in the season’s opening slalom in Levi, Finland, just a week prior. Expressing his disbelief at his achievement, Rassat stated, “I never imagined this was possible,” in an interview with Austrian TV.
With the Milan Cortina Winter Games approaching in less than three months, Rassat’s timing for this breakthrough victory could not have been better. Determined to qualify for the Olympics, Rassat shared his aspirations, saying, “For sure, I want to be at the Olympics. My goal at the moment is to perform on the World Cup, to qualify for the Olympics.”
Competing in the chilly but sunny conditions of the Austrian Alps, Rassat initially ranked 14th after the first run but delivered a stellar second run, finishing 0.07 seconds ahead of Armand Marchant, who secured Belgium’s first-ever podium in Alpine skiing’s World Cup. Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath, the leader after the first run, slipped to third place, trailing Rassat by 0.09 seconds.
Ecstatic about his victory, Rassat expressed, “This is insane. My dream just came true today, so this is amazing,” after posting the fastest final run time, outpacing his competitors by 0.27 seconds. The 27-year-old skier, son of a ski instructor, had a strong debut in the World Cup in January 2022 and achieved his first top-10 result three years later in Switzerland.
Reflecting on the significance of his family’s presence at the race, Rassat shared, “My dad was my first coach and my mother also worked at the club, so this is a big day for us and I’m so, so happy to share it with them.” Following his victory, Rassat ascended to the top of both the slalom and overall standings after three events, showcasing his potential in the sport.
As the men’s World Cup progresses, the women’s slalom event is set to take place on the same hill the following day, while the upcoming speed race in Copper Mountain, Colorado, marks the first super-G of the season.