Méribel (France) (AFP) - Henrik Kristoffersen sealed a third World Cup slalom title by finishing second to fellow Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath on Sunday but then insisted he just wanted to win races.
"It's been a good day for sure," said Kristoffersen after claiming the title following what he termed a "totally crazy" slalom season which went down to the last race.
"Winning a race remains a unique feeling, the strongest," he added later.
Kristoffersen entered the final race leading the slalom standings but battling a third Norwegian, Lucas Braathen, for the title.
Braathen was fastest in the first run, a narrow 0.05sec ahead of Kristoffersen, with McGrath third.
On the second run, McGrath made mistakes but recovered.Kristoffersen then delivered a solid run to put the pressure on Braathen who went last.
"Today the first run was easy, a little too easy for my taste for a World Cup," said Kristoffersen.
"My coach designed the second run and we made it more difficult.Hats off to Atle for his victory.When you triumph on this type of track you are a real skier."
Braathen struggled, recording the 21st fastest second-run time on a demanding course to slide from first to 11th.
Austrian Manuel Feller jumped to third and also climbed to second in the final slalom standings.
On Sunday, McGrath beat Kristoffersen by 0.37sec with Feller at 0.77sec.
The next two places were occupied by skiers from nations with less tradition of Alpine success.
Bulgarian Albert Popov was fourth and Spaniard Joaquim Salarich was fifth.
They made an unlikely pair as they embraced in the finish area.Popov stands 5ft 3ins (1.57cm) while Salarich is 6ft 2ins.
Kristoffersen claimed his third small slalom globe, but this victory was tighter than the previous two.
"Today was a really good exercise for me because it's the first time I've fought for a globe where you have to do good on the last day to win the globe," he said.
"I think I should have secured it before but there have been so many great slalom skiers this year and the slalom season has been the most fun for fans to watch.It's been totally crazy."
Later he insisted titles mattered less than race victories.
"I haven't won a big globe or Olympic gold, but the most satisfying thing for me is to win the races.Winning a race remains a unique feeling, the strongest", said the 27-year-old skier, who has 28 World Cup victories, including five this winter, two in the slalom and three in the giant slalom, where he finished second to Swiss star Marco Odermatt.
Kristoffersen finished the season 90 points ahead of Feller.McGrath, who won the last two races, rose to third.
His result also took him to take third place in the overall ranking, behind two men who did not race on Sunday, Odermatt and Norwegian compatriot Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.
