This is one of the images of this decidedly eventful Alpine weekend. The slalom in Gurgl, Austria, which launched the men’s Alpine Ski World Cup season after two cancellations and was won by Manuel Feller, was temporarily interrupted by the appearance of environmental activists in the finish area.
Coming to spread orange powder on the Austrian snow after also displaying banners in German (“Pay attention to the climate”), the intruders, booed by the public and evacuated by the security service of the event, provoked ire by Norwegian skier Henrik Kristoffersen.
Already fairly recovered after a poorly controlled race (7th), the winner of four big globes has completely lost his grip. He came very close to coming to blows with one of the protesters, stopped just before he could grab him. After insulting the activist, the fiery Norwegian returned to his zone.
Kristoffersen: “I would have hit him again if I had the chance”
“They’re bloody idiots. They spoil the journey for others who are still at the top. I have no respect for things and people like that, Henrik Kristoffersen raged on Norwegian television NRK. We shouldn’t have people like this in the world, they need to go. I would have hit him again if I had the chance. I’m not afraid of punishment. »
????⛷️ URGENT: WORLD CUP IN GURGL INTERRUPTED – CLIMATE NOW!
Today we are taking our protest to the World Cup slopes. Citizens have already proven that they can work together to find sensible solutions, such as stopping fossil fuel subsidies.#a22network #LastGeneration pic.twitter.com/sHpVJ1hv3s
— Last Generation Austria (@chtegenAT) November 18, 2023
These demonstrators are part of the collective of climate activists Letzte Generation (“Last Generation”), which had already stood out on the sidelines of the first stage of the Alpine Ski World Cup in Sölden. The resumption of the season was marked by numerous debates on the future of skiing in the context of climate change, while several races were canceled due to bad weather conditions.
