Industry News
Norwegian-Brazilian ski racer Lucas Braathen has returned to on-snow training at Sölden, Austria, accompanied by a top team assembled by his father and team manager Björn Braathen. The coaching team consists of two coaches, Norwegian Peter Lederer and Austrian Mike Pircher, as well as Coaching Assistant Christian Owesen Hoel from Norway. The coaching team is supported by Tor Schjetne, Braathen’s long-standing ski technician from Atomic, and Kurt Kohtbauer as Personal Trainer.
Lucas Braathen had announced his retirement from competitive skiing at the start of last season, after a falling out with the Norwegian Ski Association. He announced his come-back to ski racing under the Brazilian flag last month. In order to prepare for the 24/25 season, Braathen’s father has assembled a top team around the tech specialist, who is turning 24 tomorrow, April 19.
Lucas Braathen entered the FIS Alpine World Cup circuit at only 18 years of age in the 18/19 season. The dual Norwegian-Brazilian citizen podiumed a total of 12 times, including five victories. In the 22/23 season, Braathen won the prestigious Slalom FIS World Cup Crystal Globe.
Austrian coach Mike Pircher’s change to Team Brazil is a big loss for Ski Austria. He was coaching the men’s Giant Slalom team and had in the past been Marcel Hirscher’s coach. Hirscher is a retired Austrian skiing star who holds the record to this day for most Overall FIS World Cup season titles, with eight Big Crystal Globes to his name. Hirscher now owns a ski manufacturing business in joint venture with Red Bull called Van Deer.
Personal Trainer Kohtbauer previously worked with Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt. 26-year-old Odermatt is the 23/24 season Overall Crystal Globe winner in Alpine Skiing. The Austrian Ski Association ÖSV had hoped to coax Kohtbauer back to his native Austria, but he had already signed on with Team Braathen.
Braathen shared pictures and videos on his social media channels from his training at Sölden, Austria, showing the skier in both Slalom as well as Giant Slalom gates. The team convened for the first time at Hafjell Ski Resort in Norway before heading to Söldenfor more gate training. After training sessions in Europe, Braathen and his team will head to New Zealand for the Southern Hemisphere winter and continue his training down under.
We look forward to seeing the return of this young talented skier to the World Cup circuit and wish him a happy birthday for tomorrow. Grattis & Feliz Aniversário!
