BEAVER CREEK, Colorado: Italy’s Matteo Marsaglia notched his first alpine World Cup victory on Saturday, winning the Beaver Creek super-G ahead of Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal.
Germany’s Hannes Reichelt was third.
Marsaglia, 27, clocked 1min 14.68sec. Svindal, who was second in the downhill on Friday to remain atop the overall World Cup standings, was 27-hundredths of a second back.
“This can help me a lot,” Marsaglia said. “I knew I could have a good year, I knew I was in really good shape, but if you don’t do it...”
He said he was rewarded for his aggressive approach.
“I took a lot of risks,” he said. “You need to do this, and when you take a lot of risks you need to be a little bit lucky. This was my day.”
Reichelt, winner of the super-G at Beaver Creek in 2007, set the early pace from the eighth starting position but finished the day 70-hundredths off the lead.
The course with tight turns offered little margin for error. Austrian Max Franz hit a gate and fell hard. He took a knock to the head and was taken to hospital for observation.
Austrian head coach Mathis Berthold said Franz lost consciousness for a couple of seconds and had a mild concussion. He also complained of discomfort in his shoulder and knee, but those did not appear to be serious injuries.
Germany’s Stephan Keppler also failed to finish and ended his day with an impressive black eye.
Svindal said mistakes by more experienced skiers opened the door for Marsaglia.
“Me, Kjetil (Jansrud) and Christof Innerhofer we all made mistakes so Matteo Marsaglia took his opportunity to win the race.
“I am fine losing to a young guy who is ready to go all-out than to somebody of my generation,” Svindal said. “I was really skiing well until I made this mistake but I’m not complaining: two podium placings within two days, I’ll take it.”
Even though he left Lake Louise with back-to-back victories to his credit, Svindal said he was a bit surprised by his two runner-up finishes here, with a giant slalom remaining on Sunday.
“When I came here I felt really good and I was looking forward to skiing well, but these two podiums were a little bit more than I expected,” he said.
Marsaglia’s triumph continued a strong week for Italy. His compatriot Innerhofer won the downhill on Friday.
Reichelt was delighted to rebound from his disappointing showing in Lake Louise last weekend.
“After Lake Louise I was crushed, my confidence was so low, my skiing wasn’t good and I really didn’t know if I was going to find a solution,” he said.
“Coming back to a race that you have already won always helps. This feels so good to be on the podium.”
Marsaglia claims men’s World Cup super-G
Marsaglia claims men’s World Cup super-G
How international academies are shaping Saudi football’s next generation
- Building a unified national footballing philosophy in Saudi Arabia is no simple task
Saudi Arabia’s football transformation has been impossible to ignore since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of 2022. An influx of global stars followed, and with it, unprecedented attention on the Saudi Pro League.
Yet beneath the spotlight, a more pressing question emerged amongst domestic fans: “What is the long-term strategy for developing local players?”
Building a unified national footballing philosophy in Saudi Arabia is no simple task. The sheer size of the Kingdom presents logistical challenges unlike those faced by smaller neighbouring nations, making grassroots development harder to centralize. In this landscape, the work of individual institutions can contribute significantly to the broader football ecosystem.
One such contributor is Juventus Academy Saudi Arabia, an official extension of one of world football’s most historic clubs, operating under the umbrella of Al-Shoaibi Group. Arab News spoke to head of public relations at Juventus Academy, Malak Al-Awami, based in Alkhobar, to understand how the academy fits into the Kingdom’s long-term football vision.
“Saudi Arabia is experiencing a transformational moment under Vision 2030, prioritizing youth development and active lifestyles,” Al-Awami explained. “The academy arrives at a perfect time to contribute to a world-class methodology while helping nurture the next generation of Saudi footballers.”
At Juventus Academy, success is deliberately defined beyond results and trophies.
“We’re not just training players,” Al-Awami said. “We’re shaping future leaders for the Kingdom.”
That philosophy has been reflected in how the academy balances Juventus’ global philosophy with local Saudi culture. While all coaches undergo Juventus’ training standards, cultural understanding remains a priority.
“All of our coaches are guided to respect Saudi values, culture and communication styles,” Al-Awami said. “Technical excellence matters, but the coach’s character is just as important as their certification.”
One of the academy’s defining features has been its inclusivity and cultural awareness. Players can join as young as four years old and continue until the age of 18, with programs open to both boys and girls.
That inclusivity has had a tangible impact. Juventus Academy played a role in the formation of Khobar FC, a women’s team that competed in the inaugural season of the SAFF Women’s Second Division League.
“We even used the same kit style as Juventus, getting approval from the club itself,” revealed Al-Awami.
Operating as an extension of the academy, the team finished just a few points behind established clubs like Al-Nahda and Al-Fateh in their regional group.
Al-Awami noted that the group is also exploring complementary initiatives aimed at elite player development beyond the academy itself. Among them is the planned Superior Striker Project, a specialized program designed to bring international attacking expertise to Saudi Arabia through short-term clinics for youth and professional players.
It is this broader contribution that highlights the growing importance of international academies in Saudi Arabia. Beyond providing structured training, they are helping build communities, instil values and strengthen the foundations of the domestic football pyramid.
When asked about what success would look like for Juventus Academy in 5-10 years, Al-Awami was clear. “It is definitely not about trophies or big contracts,” he said, before adding, “it is the legacy we leave behind. If, in 10 years we see confident young Saudi players competing at elite levels, local coaches growing through our programs, and families trusting football as a tool for personal development, then we will know that we have truly succeeded.”
Juventus Academy Saudi Arabia builds on Al-Shoaibi Group’s original ambition in 2018: to create meaningful football opportunities for families in the Kingdom. Today, that ambition has evolved into a structured pathway contributing to Saudi football future, blending global expertise with local identity to help shape the next generation.
