Lucas Braathen won the slalom ball this year. © APA/afp / LIONEL BONAVENTURE

From pressure & idols: ski star Lucas Braathen in South Tyrol

He is not only the idol of many South Tyrolean ski kids because of his skiing skills: Lucas Braathen also inspires his young fans because of his unconventional, relaxed style. The 23-year-old Norwegian was recently a guest in South Tyrol and was available to answer questions.

31 May 2023

From: pm

As part of the Energiapura Children & Kids Series Award Day in St. Vigil in Enneberg, Alex Silbernagl (Seiser Alm ski team) and David Castlunger (Alta Badia ski team) were allowed to interview the Scandinavian champion. Lucas Braathen spoke about...

... the importance of racing as a child:

“Racing is an important learning process. Because in the race you are under pressure and you only have two options to finish a run properly. In training, however, you can do numerous rides and repeat a run x times. That's why it's important to start racing as a young athlete to get that racing mentality. But: skiing fast, i.e. achieving good results, is not that important for children.”


... his mental preparation for a race:

“Before a race, I just think about the movement and play it over and over again in my head. This is an absolute priority for me. The fastest athlete in the World Cup is always the athlete with the best technique and not the one with the most intensity, i.e. the one who pushes himself hard before the race. If you push yourself too much, then the mistakes will come. Technology, technology, technology – that’s what matters. “

“The fastest athlete in the World Cup is always the athlete with the best technique.” Lucas Braathen

... ski training in summer:

“Every athlete is different and has to evaluate for themselves whether they want to ski in the summer or not. For certain ski racers it is important that they take a break in the summer. Other athletes, on the other hand, need ski training every month so that they can achieve good results in winter. So it's very individual. There is no right way, everyone has to listen to their own feelings. I still ride a lot in April after the World Cup season. In May, June and July I don't ski at all, in August I start slowly and from September I go full throttle. But I also know athletes who train on snow in May, June and July.”

Lucas Braathen (center of the picture) was a guest in Enneberg.

... about failures:

“At the moment of departure it is of course a crisis and catastrophe. You are groggy and angry. But: What's one race in the course of a long career? Nothing. That's why it's important to pull the lever immediately, not to fall into crisis mode and think about what was done wrong. And that you then draw your lessons from it. Because a failure is a perfect opportunity to learn to do better next time.”


... about the slalom crystal ball that he won this year:

“It's not like I walk by it every day and look at it for hours and feel great. It's tucked away in a box in my house. Plus, I travel a lot, so I wouldn't be able to stare at them so much anyway (laughs). Of course it's cool to be a World Cup winner. But what was most important to me was the feeling I had when it was clear that I had won the ball. There was a lot of satisfaction for all the work and for the many sacrifices.”


... his friendship with Atle Lie McGrath:

“He and I have been friends since we were 11 years old and ride for the same club. He is a great athlete and has a strong mentality. We are not competitors, but colleagues. We learn from each other and push each other. As a result, we both became faster and faster. We are walking this path together and are both much stronger as a result.”

Braathen and his buddy Atle Lie McGrath (left) celebrated a double victory in Adelboden. © APA/afp / FABRICE COFFRINI

... Marcel Hirscher:

“He is the greatest skier of all time. And Marcel Hirscher is also my biggest idol in the skiing world.”


Questions: Alex Silbernagl and David Castlunger