As a Brazilian: Braathen wants to change the sport of skiing

Lucas Braathen has had a year of self-discovery. The surprising retirement of the then best slalom skier in the world turned into a mega comeback. Now Braathen is back as a mature ski ambassador for Brazil and is claiming to change his sport.

21 October 2024

From: apa

Not many 24-year-olds talk about how they want to change ski racing. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen lectures for minutes on end with impressive eloquence. Here and there he sprinkles in a supposed piece of wisdom or gives book recommendations. He is particularly fond of "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell, but above all "Range" by David Epstein.

This book shows why generalists are particularly successful in a specialized world. "The broader the spectrum of impressions and experiences in life, the better you can become in your niche or your specific job," explains Braathen.

“It feels like a semester in the school of life” Lucas Braathen

He has gathered enough impressions during his sabbatical year. Here is just a selection of his activities: He designed fashion and modeled, got people going as a DJ, immersed himself for months in the technology department of his equipment supplier Atomic and devoted himself to his youth foundation. "It was a year in which I learned a lot about myself. It feels like a semester in the school of life."

Braathen quotes Steve Jobs

He made the decision to return to the World Cup in January. Together with his father, he built up a multinational, but above all top-class support team. Mike Pircher, Marcel Hirscher's former coach, and Kurt Kothbauer, most recently Marco Odermatt's physio, are part of this team. Braathen found it quite funny - and enriching, as a 23-year-old. He took to heart a motto from Steve Jobs. "He said that at Apple we don't hire people to tell them what to do, we hire them so that they can tell us what to do."

Ultimately, his niche is skiing. "That's what I've realized. It's like I still have unfinished business in this industry. I want to make a difference in this sport. I believe there's room for big change. And I think it's my responsibility to be that figure."

Before his retirement, Lucas Pinheiro Braaten was considered the world's best slalom skier. © APA/afp / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

Braathen, who won five World Cup races in giant slalom and slalom, unexpectedly resigned in October 2023 after a dispute with the Norwegian association. He had promoted a Swedish clothing brand that was not one of the Norwegians' official suppliers. For him, this was an unacceptable infringement of personal rights. The dual citizen now represents Brazil, his mother's country. The last samba dancer in the snow to date was Jhonatan Longhi, who tried in vain to get World Cup points between 2008 and 2016.

“My grandma will understand what skiing is” Lucas Braathen

Braathen has now given the Brazilian press a crash course. The memory of it - "Yes, you drive down a mountain at 140 kilometers per hour around plastic gates" - not only amuses him. The role of explainer makes him proud. "I'm representing the country in a sport in which it is not yet represented. That's really special." It's also special for the family. "For the first time, my grandmother will understand what skiing is because she'll see it on the TV screen."

The world's top is the goal

At the same time, the sporting culture in Brazil is brutal. "In Brazil, it's all about winning. All or nothing." But if there is a star, he is cheered frenetically. His goal is therefore clear. "I want to be at the top again," said Braathen. "I wouldn't return without the intention of being the best again." But the new Sölden testimonial now sees his work in a much broader sense. "I'm here to inspire people to dare to do what makes them happiest." In his case, he realized, it's skiing. "But to make a difference, you have to be the best, you have to be exceptional. Winning is exceptional."