Slalom Globe Winner Atle Lie McGrath Targets the World’s Fastest Turn

Atle Lie McGrath / GEPA pictures

Atle Lie McGrath won the 2025-26 World Cup slalom globe. This year, he aims to ski the fastest turn in the world. He has also worked on his starts, a specific skill he hopes will improve his race times.

The Norwegian racer spoke with Ski Racing Media about entering the season as the globe winner, last winter’s lessons learned, season preparations and his feelings about racing in the United States, where he was born.

Strong Emotions

SRM: How does it feel to be last season’s slalom globe winner, coming into this season?

ATLE: It feels incredible. It was for sure one of my biggest childhood dreams to win a globe and to actually do it was amazing. So, I feel a lot of weight was lifted off my shoulders and now I can be free and ski how I want to ski.

The 2025-26 season also brought tough moments for Lie McGrath. His grandfather, with whom he had close ties, died in Norway during the Olympic opening ceremony in Italy. Heartbroken by the loss, Lie McGrath finished fifth in the giant slalom eight days later and then took the lead in the first run of the Olympic slalom. The situation turned quickly as he straddled a gate early in the second run. The disappointment and sorrow were hard to bear.

Lessons From Last Season

SRM: The 2025-26 season brought an array of emotions, including the Olympic low and the Hafjell World Cup Finals high. What did you learn from all of that, and can you benefit from these experiences in the future?

ATLE: For sure, I learned a lot. I had so many experiences last year. You know, the highest highs I’ve ever felt and the lowest valley as well, so I’m really just going to bring all the experiences with me. Most of all, I’ve learned that no matter how tough it got last season, and also how good it got, nothing’s infinite. No feeling stays forever and that’s a good thing. I think life goes on and I’ve had a lot of great people around me, so I’m just going to bring that feeling with me throughout the season.

2026-27 Season Preparations

SRM: How has your preseason training worked out?

ATLE: It’s been great. I’ve been feeling really good, I’ve had good consistency this summer and I’ve had good consistency skiing this winter, which is really important for me. I’m feeling healthy – can’t take that for granted in this sport. So, I’m very excited, very happy with how I’m feeling.

SRM: Is there anything specific you have worked on in preparation for the season?

ATLE: I’ve been working on my starts because, in general, I’m pretty slow to the first split. So, that’s something specific I’ve been working on. And just consistently skiing fast. Going clean, trying to have the fastest turn in the world is my goal. If I can have that and tactically make good choices, then I think I can take new steps in both GS and slalom.

A Long Season

SRM: Do you feel good about your work; has it been going in the right direction?

ATLE: Yeah! So far so good. I mean, it’s a long season. Sölden’s always interesting, it can go any direction. Last year I started my slalom season horribly and I went out in two of the first three races. And Lucas as well, he skied out in Sölden [in 2025] and he won the [GS] globe. So, it doesn’t always matter how you start as long as you’re skiing well.

SRM: What do you look forward to the most this year?

ATLE: I’m really looking forward to the World Championships and just all the World Cup races. I’m super excited to ski and just looking forward to racing.

World Championship Thoughts

This fall, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) started exploring the possibility of adding World Championships in even-numbered, non-Olympic years, in addition to the current odd-numbered years.

Athletes have expressed various views on the matter.

SRM: Do you have any thoughts on FIS exploring the possibility of holding World Championships in even-numbered, non-Olympic years?

ATLE: I’m a little bit skeptical in some ways. I think it gives inflation on all the World Championship medals. The reason why they’re so special is because it’s only one day every second year you have the chance to make them. That’s also what makes the Olympics so special. Also, [it’s] a huge mental load to ski a championship. Of course, I understand championships are amazing; they bring in a lot of sponsors, they bring in a lot of money. It’s a great option, but I do think we need to take a little bit care of how special championships are and not just throw them out every single year. If it happens, it’s going to give me more chances than ever to win World Championship medals, which stats-wise and everything is going to be great. But I think it maybe takes a bit of the special feeling from championships away.

Plans for Super-G

In the past, Lie McGrath has impressed with strong super-G results.

Growing up in the Norwegian Bærums Skiklub (BSK), Lie McGrath, clubmate Lucas Pinheiro Braathen and other BSK skiers, including Kajsa Vickhoff Lie and Mina Fürst Holtmann, trained super-G from a young age. You can read more about their experiences with the ski club culture and program.

In December 2022, Lie McGrath finished fifth in his first World Cup super-G competition, on the Birds of Prey race venue in Beaver Creek, Colo.

In February 2023, he sustained a knee injury in a crash during the World Championship super-G competition. Two days earlier, he had finished fifth in the alpine combined event, with the 10th-fastest super-G run and the fastest slalom run.

In November 2025, he once again started in a World Cup super-G competition, finishing 12th in Copper Mountain, Colo.

SRM: Any plans for World Cup super-Gs this season?

ATLE: Yep, two to six races. I’m hoping to do all three super-Gs in the U.S. this year, and then maybe do Kvitfjell and maybe one or two more. We’ll see.

Racing in the U.S.

There are three U.S. super-G race locations on the men’s World Cup calendar this season: Copper Mountain in November, Beaver Creek in December and the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, in late March.

SRM: With your U.S. family ties, what does it mean to you to compete in the United States?

ATLE: I love competing in the U.S.; to ski with the support I get. You know, I’m half American and have spent a bunch of time there, so I’m really excited that we’re going back twice, having both Copper, Beaver Creek and Sun Valley. So, very excited.

SRM: Do you like the Colorado snow?

ATLE: I love it, it’s the best. And most of all I just love super-G, it’s so much fun.

From Sölden to Levi

The Oct. 25 giant slalom season opener in Sölden, Austria, did not end as Lie McGrath had hoped for. After placing fifth in the first run, he skied out after the sixth gate in the second run.

Following the Sölden World Cup and a short break at home, Lie McGrath and the Norwegian team have focused on slalom training. First, the men’s team trained at SNØ, the indoor ski hall near Oslo, Norway. Next, the Norwegian team trained in both Sölden and Gurgl, Austria.

This week, the World Cup teams travel to Levi in Finland for the women’s and men’s slalom season openers on Nov. 14 and 15.

So far, Lie McGrath’s best Levi result is a 12th-place finish in November 2024.

Time will show whether Lie McGrath will capture the top spot in Levi and win the privilege of naming and owning a local reindeer that stays near Levi.