Serene Braathen scoops Adelboden slalom

There can be few races more high-pressured than the slalom at Adelboden, but Lucas Braathen (NOR) looked tranquil in the eye of the storm as he clocked up his fifth World Cup career victory.

A lack of snow had made the always-hazardous Chuenisbargli piste even more challenging this weekend. Braathen himself had fallen victim yesterday, DNFing in the giant slalom.

But he won both slalom runs on Sunday, combining his trademark dynamic turns with a more calm, calculated approach.

The Norwegian beat his best friend and teammate, Atle Lie McGrath (NOR), into second place (+0.71), with Linus Strasser (GER) third (+0.92).

“It was a tough day yesterday, so to be able to bounce back with a victory in a legendary Adelboden, words can’t describe how proud I am,” he said.

“It is surreal, the atmosphere they put on here. This is what I dream of. That moment I got to share in front of 30,000 crazy amazing Swiss fans, it is a moment I’ll never forget.”

The result puts Braathen at the top of the slalom point standings. His key rival, Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), finished 37th on the first run after a major error, and didn’t make it to the showdown.

The second run was also treacherous, with a track that got increasingly cut up, but Braathen, who has recently struggled with DNFs after perhaps pushing too hard, calculated his turns here to perfection.

Perhaps illustrating his all-or-nothing approach, all his podiums this season have been wins. But despite the DNFs, 22-year-old Braathen is already having the best season of his career. He has also lifted the GS title in Alta Badia, and the slalom in Val d’Isere.

This was his third World Cup career slalom victory; he also triumphed in Wengen in January 2022.

He is the youngest winner of a slalom at Adelboden since Kristoffersen broke the record in 2017.

At the bottom, roared on by a rowdy Adelboden crowd, Braathen wrestled with his second-placed teammate.

“The work Atle and I have put in together, and with our team in Norway, that’s how we are where we are today," said Braathen.

“To bounce back and trust the process we’ve worked on as a team, that’s the key.”

McGrath (NOR) – another racer who epitomises the Attacking Vikings philosophy – hadn’t managed to finish a slalom yet this season, and was just as delighted as Braathen.

“I wanted to push the limits in a smart way,” he said. “I was really nervous after going out in the GS yesterday, and I tried to reset, I took some deep breaths.

“I did a safe first run and I experienced that amazing atmosphere. When I came in with green lights [on the second run], wow, I’ll remember that for the rest of my life."

Strasser was satisfied with his tenth World Cup podium after a smooth, flowing performance.

“Today I found a good line between taking just enough risk and not too much, skiing solid,” he said. “In Garmisch I went for the win, and after I went out, I felt it had been too much. It was a good mixture today.”

The men's slalom continues next Sunday in Wengen.