Three weeks after the season opener in Sölden, the World Cup moved north to Levi. Once again we got what seems to define this winter: dominance, drama, and raw emotion.
The second stop on this 60th Alpine Ski World Cup season became another milestone on the long road toward the Finals at Kvitfjell/Hafjell this March.
Shiffrin Sets the Standard – Again
Saturday in Levi belonged entirely to Mikaela Shiffrin.
Under the blue Lapland sky, the American superstar produced a slalom performance of total authority. She won by a commanding 1.66 seconds, securing her 102nd career victory and an impressive ninth win in Levi, a venue that continues to bring out her very best.
The result confirmed what Sölden had hinted at: Shiffrin is back in full force in the technical events after seasons shaped by injuries. Her early momentum has already pushed her to the top of the overall standings, placing her firmly in the hunt for a sixth overall crystal globe, a milestone that would tie the legendary Annemarie Moser-Pröll.
“It feels like home here in Levi,” Shiffrin said after the race.
“Starting a season with an early win always gives such a good feeling.”
Thirteen consecutive seasons with at least one World Cup win, the consistency is extraordinary.
Behind her, a new generation showed they intend to challenge the throne this winter. Emma Aicher, who claimed her first World Cup win in downhill at Kvitfjell last February, stepped onto her first-ever slalom podium. Lara Colturi, racing for Albania, continued to impress at a high level.
The Norwegian athletes also delivered flashes of promise:
• Bianca Bakke Westhoff surged from bib 46 to finish 14th.
• Mina Fürst Holtmann was 5th after the first run before skiing out in the second.
A Historic Sunday for Lucas Pinheiro Braathen
If Saturday showcased dominance, Sunday provided one of the most emotional stories of the season so far.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, one of the sport’s most charismatic and expressive athletes, carved out a moment for the history books. Racing for Brazil, his mother’s homeland, he attacked the “Black Levi” slope with fearless intent, beating last year’s winner Clément Noël and earning his first World Cup victory since returning to the circuit.
Finland’s Edvard Hallberg lit up the venue with a surprise podium in third. For Norway, the results were mixed:
- Timon Haugan took 5th after a difficult second run.
- Henrik Kristoffersen, the reigning slalom globe winner, placed 13th.
- Atle Lie McGrath skied out while pushing for a podium.
- Loïc Meillard, the reigning world champion, finished 14th.
The day, however, belonged to Braathen, both for the skiing and for the emotion that followed.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said, fighting tears. “This journey has been so difficult and lonely… I followed my own path. This isn’t just another win, it’s personal. I hope I can inspire others to do the same.”
Since his first World Cup win in Sölden in 2020, Braathen’s career has been a whirlwind: breakthrough success, a slalom globe in 2023, a sudden retirement, and a dramatic return, now racing in new colours. Levi marked the culmination of that turbulent arc.
