Feller to skip season-opening slalom in Levi

Next week, the new slalom season kicks off in Levi, Finland - but without Manuel Feller.

The ÖSV star will skip the first slalom of the winter, the federation announced on Saturday.

"My training is going very well and improving week by week. However, I am still catching up on training, especially in terms of fitness," Feller explained.

Feller hopes for return in Gurgl

"Additionally, I still lack runs over the full race distance of around 50 to 60 seconds. Therefore, I will not be competing in Levi yet and will continue to work hard on my comeback. My goal is to return to racing at the home World Cup in Gurgl," said the 34-year-old.

The Tyrolean ended last season early after the Olympic Games, where he won the silver medal in the team combined, to undergo surgery. The reasons were persistent back problems following several herniated discs, as well as groin issues.

ÖSV athlete to make World Cup debut

Without Feller, the ÖSV squad for Levi includes the following athletes: Fabio Gstrein, Oscar Heine, Michael Matt, Adrian Pertl, Dominik Raschner, Simon Rueland, Johannes Strolz, and Joshua Sturm.

Pertl, the 2021 slalom World Championship silver medalist, originally missed out on qualification, but moves into the World Cup squad following Feller's withdrawal >>>

23-year-old Heine will make his World Cup debut in Finland.

In the women's event, the following athletes will be competing in Levi: Natalie Falch, Lisa Hörhager, Franziska Gritsch, Katharina Huber, Leonie Raich, Valentina Rings-Wanner, and Katharina Truppe.