Featured Image Podium finish Levi/GEPA
“If there are kids out there watching, your difference is your superpower — believe in it.”- Lucas Pinheiro Braathan BRA
Second Run Drama Under Arctic Skies
The sun peeked out over Levi for the start of the second run. The polished slope demanded precision, and the second run proved just how unpredictable a slalom can be. For the North Americans, it was a tough day: Ben Ritchie straddled and DNF’d, while Cooper Puckett earned his first World Cup points in his first-ever World Cup slalom start.
“It was amazing. Honestly, I give all the credit to God. I was doing mostly GS prep all summer for Sölden and didn’t have many slalom days. I came up here with no stress, got a time-trial opportunity I wasn’t expecting, and I’m really grateful I was able to make the most of it. God helped me out a lot today, so it was awesome. It’s crazy how fast it can happen — first World Cup slalom, first World Cup points. It’s not always what you expect, but it’s what you believe.” — Cooper Puckett, USA
Braathen Controls the Race
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen delivered a masterful performance, carrying his first-run lead into the second and navigating the rhythm changes, pitch, and flats with precision and aggression. He crossed the line to claim the first men’s slalom World Cup victory of the season, proving why he remains one of the most dynamic and consistent racers on the circuit. This is the first World Cup vittory for Brazil.
“It represents who I am. I try to ski with my heart and in my own way, even if it comes with big sacrifices. Being oneself is a tough road, but for me it’s the right way, and today it led me to the very top.”At the end of the day, I just want to thank my family, my dad that’s been with me since the very start, and the rest of the team. I could never do it without them. This is a victory for myself, for my friends, for my family, for Brazil, and for individuality.” — Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA)
Clement Noël Holds Strong in Second
Clement Noël (FRA), last season’s most successful French slalom racer with 14 career wins, delivered a calm yet attacking second run to secure second place overall. The veteran came out charging from the very first gate, blending precision and aggression through the rhythm changes and flats, ultimately holding off challengers to reinforce his status as one of the most consistent and formidable skiers on the World Cup circuit.
“The slope was amazing and the snow was perfect today. What impressed me most was the crowd—the atmosphere was great, thanks in large part to Eduard. It’s usually a bit calmer here, but I loved it. If everyone can come back every year and cheer for us like this, it’s perfect. Thank you very much—it was a really great day.” — Clément Noël
Eduard Hallberg Electrifies Home Crowd
The story of the day came from 22-year-old Eduard Hallberg, who lit up Levi in front of the home crowd. His fearless skiing earned the best finish by a Finnish male skier in Levi World Cup history—surpassing Kalle Palander’s 11th-place result from 2006—and put him on the cusp of the first male podium at Levi. The performance thrilled the local fans and marked a breakthrough moment for Finnish men’s slalom.
“It’s unbelievable. Getting my first World Cup podium here in Finland, with family and friends watching, means everything. Levi has been my childhood dream — I grew up coming here, watching these races — and I’ve had so many repetitions on this hill that I know where to be fast and where to be smart. When I came down and heard how loud the crowd was, it was incredible. It’s hard to take it all in, but it’s amazing, and now I just want to keep the ball rolling.” — Eduard Hallberg (FIN)
Austrians Fire Back
The Austrian team came out firing in the second run, shaking off first-run nerves to make big moves. Manuel Feller delivered the cleanest skiing on the pitch, climbing 12 spots, while Michael Matt moved up seven positions, skiing with more punch and attacking intensity than in the first run. The strong attack helped to move the Austrians up and put 3 in the top 11.
British Brilliance, Norwegian Struggles
Great Britain stole the spotlight in the second run, with Dave Ryding and Laurie Taylor delivering phenomenal performances. Dave Ryding held steady to secure a top-10 finish, while Laurie Taylor lit up the course with the fastest second run, climbing an incredible 11 spots to a career-best 4th place and giving the UK two skiers inside the top seven. Their aggressive yet controlled skiing thrilled the fans and underscored the depth and talent of the British squad. Billy Major made a few mistakes in the second run but finished 27th, and he’ll be looking to build on this experience and gain confidence heading into the next slalom in Gurgl, Austria.
“It’s pretty crazy, to be honest. Training has been going really well for all of us, and to piece it together in the first race feels amazing. Billy and I have learned so much from Dave over the years, and with this being his last season, it feels like it’s our time to step up and keep British skiing moving forward. We’re always the underdogs, but we’ve got the skiers and the capability — sometimes it just takes us a bit longer. It’s a real lesson in perseverance: keep going, keep going, it’s always possible.” — Laurie Taylor (GBR)
“Give me a top 10 to start the season and I’ll take it any day of the week. The most important thing in the first race is getting points on the board, and we’re up and running. Seeing Laurie take fourth and having three Brits in the top 30 shows the form we’re in. These boys have pushed me for years — I’m still going because of them. We’re probably the least-funded team on the World Cup, but every year we step up, and today we were better than Austria and Switzerland. It’s a really sweet day for British skiing.” — Dave Ryding (GBR)
“The second run was frustrating — I over-gripped a bit and couldn’t really do my thing — but today isn’t about me. It’s about Laurie and Dave. What Laurie did was unreal, and no one deserves it more. We’ve been building toward this for a while, things are starting to click, and being right there shows the level we’ve got. And yeah, it feels pretty good to be ahead of some of the big nations.” — Billy Major (GBR)
Meanwhile, the Norwegians faced a tough afternoon. Slalom globe winner Henrik Kristoffersen skied stiff and nervous, unable to find the flow needed to recover from a shaky first run. Timon Haugan gave a strong effort but made too many errors on the pitch and coming off the breakover onto the flats, losing his podium position. Atle Lie McGrath fell victim to the course, straddling and DNF’ing, highlighting the unforgiving nature of Levi’s Black slope.
Official Results – Levi Men’s Slalom
- Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA)– 1:50:72
- Clement Noel (FRA)– +.31
- Eduard Hallberg (FIN) – +.57
- Laurie Taylor (GBR)– +.61
- Timon Haugan (NOR) – +.77
