Norwegians take centre stage as men’s technical events begin at Val d’Isere

The men’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup technical events get under way this weekend with a giant slalom and slalom at Val d’Isere, France.

It is the first men’s slalom of the season, and many will expect the Attacking Vikings to lead the way.

Henrik Kristoffersen will be favourite in Sunday’s race but the discipline’s defending World Cup champion, who also won the title in 2016 and 2020, won’t expect it to be easy.

The 28-year-old Norwegian suffered a dip in form in 2021, followed by a patchy start to last season, and didn’t finish two of his first four races.

But Kristoffersen didn’t let the doubters get to him and, mid-season, acknowledged the pressure that any kind of blip puts on him.

“Everyone starts thinking, ‘Is he finished now? What’s wrong?’ and everything,” he said. “Skiing is my life. I have a family and skiing and that’s my life, I don’t have anything else. When that goes tough, it’s challenging, especially when you’ve won so many races before.”

But like any true great, Kristoffersen responded in style in the latter part of the season, putting together a string of trademark performances, culminating in a double win in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It was enough to seize the crystal globe.

When Kristoffersen wasn’t winning, a trio of fit, fearless and technically gifted compatriots were.

Sebastian Foss-Solevaag (NOR) pocketed his second career slalom title in Madonna di Campiglio, Lucas Braathen (NOR) stormed to his debut win in Wengen, and Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) ended the season perfectly with magical triumphs in Flachau and Courchevel/Meribel.

Like Braathen, McGrath is 22 and doing so well it is uncertain who deserves the burdensome tag of being the ‘new Henrik Kristoffersen’. Norway’s technical coaches are certainly doing something right.

McGrath and Braathen have already shown their form this season in the speed races, finishing fifth and seventh respectively on their World Cup super-G debuts in Beaver Creek last weekend – prompting compatriot and winner of the race Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) to describe them as “really impressive”, adding: “There is no respect, they just go for it.”

France’s Clement Noel also scored a win last season – on home snow in Val d’Isere – while veterans Linus Straßer (GER), who is 30, and Dave Ryding (GBR), 35, took a victory each to show that it’s not all about the kids (or Norwegians).

Austria’s Manuel Feller, meanwhile, was quietly consistent all year, making four podiums and steadily gathering points elsewhere to finish second in the slalom standings.