The ÖSV is looking for its giant slalom team

That would have happened Stefan Babinsky a few years ago probably didn’t think that he would ever be there Giant slalom would be one of the ÖSV’s hopefuls.

The 28-year-old Styrian is considered a real speed specialist, not even at European Cup level has he ever competed in giant slalom.

Of course, the personnel shortage is now making us inventive: There are currently so few competitive giant slalom players in the ÖSV men’s team that even the untested Stefan Babinsky is now a candidate for the position Season opener in Sölden is (October 27th).

The 28-year-old, who last winter with a fourth place in the Hahnenkamm downhill run had shown, will face the ÖSV internal qualification on Wednesday on the World Cup slope in Sölden.

Babinsky is fighting in the time trials against giant slalomist Noel Zwischenbrugger and the slalom experts Fabio Gstrein and Adrian Pertl last two starting positions for the start of the World Cup.

In the absence of the injured Marco Schwarz and Joshua Sturm, ÖSV head coach Marko Pfeifer has already made one in advance Sextet nominated for the first giant slalom: Manuel Feller, Stefan Brennsteiner, Raphael Haaser, Lukas and Patrick Feurstein and Vincent Kriechmayr.

Both ÖSV women are at all three tickets still available. Stephanie Brunner, Franziska Gritsch, Ricarda Haaser, Julia Scheib and Katharina Liensberger are set for the opening giant slalom.

In the fight for the remaining three starting places there is a duel between generations: the experienced runners Katharinarupp and Katharina Huber will compete on Wednesday in Sölden with the up-and-coming hopes Viktoria Bürgler, Victoria Olivier and Angelina Salzgeber. There are also Lisa Hörhager and Nina Astner, both of whom already have World Cup experience.