Attacking Vikings lead Slalom charge in Levi

Reigning men’s Olympic Slalom gold medallist Clement Noel (FRA/Dynastar), 2022/23 and 2023/24 World Cup Slalom Globe winners Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA/Atomic) and Manuel Feller (AUT/Atomic) and the 2025 Slalom world champion Loic Meillard (SUI/Rossignol) are well aware that not only do they need to get the better of each other when the new season gets underway at 11:00 CET on Sunday in Levi, Finland, but they also need to work out how to beat team Norway.

Known as the Attacking Vikings, the Norwegians dominated last season’s Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Slalom podiums, claiming almost half of the medals on offer enroute to finishing first (Henrik Kristoffersen – Van Deer), third (Timon Haugan – Van Deer) and fifth (Atle Lie McGrath – Head) in the standings.

And the trio only want more now the new season is here.

‘100% it’s an advantage’

Together 24/7 apart from “a couple of weeks in May and the month of July”, the Attacking Vikings have built a team dynamic that clearly works in what remains an individual sport.

“In Wengen where we had the triple (McGrath-Haugan-Kristoffersen finished one-two-three in the famous Swiss race last season) to see Timon’s face, who lost the win because I beat him, and he was almost more happy than I was after that experience. It's really cool to see,” McGrath explained.

“I feel like we have a really good dynamic of turning the switch on when we're competitors and when we're not.

“100% it’s an advantage. That's why you see the consistency that we can produce in our team.”

Haugan is certainly indicative of all that. The 28-year-old produced the best Slalom season of his career last time out – three wins and five podium places – and he too credits his teammates.

“I always watch try to watch them and cheer for them, and I hope that they do well because it's nice for me to see. And if Atle comes down being fast, I know that I can be just as fast or a bit faster,” Haugan said with a laugh.

While McGrath is surely correct when he states that the “definition of a good culture is that it doesn't have to lean on one single person”, there is no doubt that Kristoffersen remains the leader of the Attacking Vikings. And the man who won his fourth Slalom Globe last season – to draw him level with Alberto Tomba (ITA) on the all-time list – is slightly more prosaic in his goal-setting for the new campaign.

His record in Levi suggests there is a good chance of him doing just that on Sunday. The 31-year-old has only missed the podium once in his seven Levi races so far. If he were to add to his two victories in Finland (in 2015 and 2020) it would be the perfect start to a season in which the veteran hopes to fill the one gap in his trophy cabinet.

“The best way to be best prepared for the Olympics is to win all the races,” said Kristoffersen, who has Olympic silver and bronze but no gold. “Ski good the races before, to be in the rhythm, the flow. That's the best way.”

‘I need to take risks’

Few know better how to win than Noel. The Beijing 2022 gold medallist grabbed four titles last season as he became France’s most successful men’s World Cup Slalom skier. But after mixing those victories with two DNFs and only one other podium place to finish fourth in the Slalom Globe standings, Noel is still wrestling with the risk versus consistency calculation.

“For sure that is a little bit frustrating to be able to win some races, to be there for podiums and victories really often and not be consistent enough to get the Globe or at least a good position at the end,” Noel said.

“My main goal every time is to win some races. So, if I want to win some races, I need to take risks. I need to go all in every time, almost. So that's my main objective. Even more, for the Olympics, you need to really take a lot of risk.”

A winner in Levi 12 months ago, the Frenchman could become the first male skier to defend his title in Lapland.

Third last season behind Noel and Kristoffersen, Meillard will be keen to continue his great form on the Slalom skis. A winner of the penultimate World Cup in Hafjell, Meillard headed off on holiday having come second in the Slalom Globe race, third in the Overall and having claimed the world title. Could he now become the first Swiss man to win a Slalom World Cup in Levi?

‘Not 100% where I want to be’

Austria’s Feller would love some of the consistency Meillard has been producing of late. World Cup champion in 2023/24, Feller struggled last time out.

“A pretty awful start, many DNFs, even if I had good form. Slalom can be a beast, even if you are feeling good. The middle of the season was OK,” Feller said as he reflected on a 2024/25 season in which he registered two podiums and a fourth place in his home World Championships.

“I had some struggles with my back over the summer. Not 100% where I want to be right now but if I look back in the past, some of my best seasons have been when I’ve had some struggles in the summer. I am looking forward with some positivity.”

While his teammate Fabio Gstrein (AUT/Atomic) did claim his first two career World Cup podiums last season, team Austria could do with an early season lift.

‘I feel at peace’

Pinheiro Braathen sounds like he got just the lift he needed during the summer, after impressing on his first season back on tour.

“I've been working over the summer on becoming even more connected with myself, my purpose, and trusting what it is that I'm here to do, and the belief that I have that I can accomplish it,” he said. “With all of those things in mind, I feel like I am very content. I feel at peace, and I feel like I really trust the potential that I have to achieve some real success this year.”

Stopped over the summer in Rio de Janiero and asked if he was “that crazy Brazilian who skis” the 24-year-old has quite a year ahead. A statement that applies to ski fans everywhere.