LA VILLA, Italy (AP) — Lucas Braathen might be just the kind of personality skiing needs to join Marco Odermatt among the younger generation taking over the sport.
The 22-year-old Norwegian, with a Brazilian mother and a taste for fashion — he has a line of jewelry for sale — demonstrated his skills on the slopes by winning one of the biggest giant slalom races of the World Cup season in Alta Badia. on Sunday.
It was a second win in a row for Braathen, who won a slalom last weekend in Val d’Isere, France.
“Winning is like a drug, you just need more of it,” Braathen said. “So I tried everything I could to get that experience back and what a privilege to be able to feel it again.”
Braathen moved up from third after the opening race to finish just 0.02sec ahead of Norwegian teammate Henrik Kristoffersen on the Big Laugh course.
Odermatt, the Olympic champion, reigning World Cup overall champion and current leader in the overall standings, recovered from a disappointing ninth in the first leg to move into third, 0.10 behind.
When it was over, Braathen looked like a professional boxer as he unleashed a series of punches in celebration. Later, during the podium celebration when he removed his gloves, Braathen revealed that his fingernails were painted black with the exception of one finger which had a yellow design.
Only two other active male skiers have won a slalom and giant slalom World Cup race in the same season: Kristoffersen and former all-around champion Alexis Pinturault.
“It’s amazing. Growing up watching Alta Badia as a kid, it’s one of my favourites. It’s arguably the coolest giant slalom course in the world,” Braathen said. to remember this day forever.
It was Braathen’s fourth career win. His first time was in the season-opening giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, two seasons ago. But a serious knee injury later that season set him back, forcing him to miss the 2021 world championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Now, Braathen is back on track and is shaping up to be a medal threat in two races at this season’s world championships in Courchevel and Méribel, France, in February.
Odermatt, who won the first two giant slaloms this season, extended his lead in the general classification ahead of Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who did not finish his first race, to 171 points.
Braathen moved up to third overall, albeit 381 points clear of Odermatt.
Pinturault finished fourth and the leader of the first race, Zan Kranjec, fifth.
The surprise of the day was for the Andorran skier Joan Verdu, who achieved the best result of his career in 12th place with the second fastest heat.
River Radamus and Tommy Ford, America’s top GS skiers, struggled in the first race.
Radamus, who finished fourth at the Beijing Olympics, fell on his left hip in the upper section and didn’t finish. Ford also lost control and had to check his skis to get to the next gate, eventually crossing almost 5 seconds behind.
Another GS is scheduled for the Big Laugh on Monday.
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