January 2026 will be remembered for its raw emotion, tears of joy, and a fierce battle for the slalom throne. Following Henrik Kristoffersen’s historic victory in Schladming, the stage is now perfectly set for a legendary showdown at the World Cup Finals in Hafjell.
The slalom circuit has rarely seen such intensity. When Henrik Kristoffersen crossed the finish line at the legendary "Nightrace" in Schladming on January 28th, it triggered scenes of pure euphoria. Twelve years after his maiden victory on that very same slope, where he as a 19-year-old, beat the great Marcel Hirscher, he secured his fifth career triumph in the place he calls his second home.
A Milestone for the History Books
With his victory in Schladming, Kristoffersen surpassed Austrian legend Benjamin Raich’s record of four wins on the Planai slope. Earlier this month in Wengen, he also reached a remarkable milestone: 100 World Cup podiums. This is a feat achieved only by icons like Ingemar Stenmark and Marcel Hirscher.
This means so much to me. It was an extremely challenging race on an icy surface, but I fought as hard as I could to seize the chance to win here again
The "Norwegian Wall": Only One Point Separates the Leaders
While Kristoffersen stole the headlines in Schladming, the overall slalom standings reveal a broad Norwegian dominance that promises a thrilling end to the season. We are looking at a "Norwegian Wall" at the top of the rankings, but the margins are razor-thin:
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Points |
| 1 | Atle Lie McGrath | NOR | 452 |
| 2 | Lucas Pinheiro Braathen | BRA | 451 |
| 3 | Clément Noël | FRA | 435 |
| 4 | Timon Haugen | NOR | 399 |
| 5 | Henrik Kristoffersen | NOR | 373 |
Atle Lie McGrath currently leads the pack, but sits only one single point ahead of Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. With Timon Haugen in 4th and Kristoffersen in 5th, Norway has three athletes with a genuine shot at the slalom globe.
The Final Showdown in Hafjell
Only two slalom races remain on the calendar. The entire season culminates in the grand finale at Hafjell on March 25th.
For the Norwegian "Attacking Vikings," there is no greater motivation than lifting the trophy on home snow. Kristoffersen, who is now chasing Aksel Lund Svindal’s record of 36 World Cup wins, has proven his form is peaking. However, he faces stiff competition from teammates McGrath and Haugen, both of whom have shown incredible consistency throughout the winter.
The battle for the Slalom Globe is wide open, the points are tight, and the atmosphere is set to be electric. We’ll see you in Hafjell for what might be the greatest Norwegian alpine party of all time!
