Loïc Meillard: GEPA pictures
Meillard Clinches Back-to-Back Wins in Hafjell as Home Hero McGrath Leads Norwegian Surge
The final World Cup slalom of the regular season came down to a thrilling battle among the fastest skiers from the first run. Billy Major of Great Britain was still in the leader’s seat, but with the top nine yet to ski, the fight for the podium was just getting started.
Strasser Sets the Tone, but Nef Strikes First
The first challenger among the top-ranked skiers was Germany’s Linus Strasser, the World Championship bronze medalist. Skiing with authority, he attacked the course but couldn’t quite match the pace, slotting into third place at the finish.
Next up was Switzerland’s Tanguy Nef, a former Dartmouth All-American who has steadily climbed the World Cup ranks this season. His skiing was clean, fast, and aggressive, and he charged past Major to take the top spot—but with seven skiers still to go, the lead was far from secure.
Norwegian Fireworks Light Up Hafjell
With the home crowd roaring, Timon Haugan—a two-time winner this season—threw down a blazing run, taking the lead by 0.59 seconds over Nef. The energy in Hafjell exploded as the first Norwegian reached the top of the standings.
Then came Henrik Kristoffersen, the season’s slalom standings leader, knowing he needed as many points as possible to protect his title lead. He attacked with his signature precision and confidence, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Haugan. Kristoffersen crossed in second, ahead of Nef but still trailing his Norwegian teammate.
The crowd barely had time to settle before the next challenger, Atle Lie McGrath, burst onto the course. The fastest Norwegian from the first run, born in the U.S. but raised in Norway, Lie McGrath was on a mission. Fast, dynamic, and well balanced, he carried speed through every sector and snatched the lead by 0.32 seconds. The Norwegian fans erupted again—at that moment, Norway held the top three positions with four skiers left.
Noël and Gstrein Fall Short, McGrath Secures a Podium
Next to charge was France’s Clément Noël, a four-time slalom winner this season. His skiing had flashes of brilliance, but it wasn’t enough. He crossed in fourth place, meaning he wouldn’t gain points on Kristoffersen in the overall slalom standings.
Three skiers remained. Austria’s Fabio Gstrein attacked but lost time in every sector, unable to keep up with the Norwegian surge. He finished fourth, securing Lie McGrath a guaranteed podium on home snow.
Pinheiro Braathen Comes Close, But Meillard Closes the Show
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Now, all eyes turned to Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the former Norwegian World Cup slalom champion who now races for Brazil, his mother’s home country. A close friend of McGrath, Braathen laid down an electrifying run, leading every sector, but fell just short at the line, crossing 0.26 seconds behind Lie McGrath. Still, he had done enough for second place, knocking Haugan off the podium.
Only one man remained: Loïc Meillard, the newly crowned World Champion and yesterday’s giant slalom winner. The Swiss star had already proven his ability to deliver under pressure, and he did it again. His run was strong, efficient, and at the limit, attacking where it mattered most.
Meillard flew across the finish line 0.21 seconds ahead of Lie McGrath, claiming back-to-back victories in Hafjell and sealing his place as one of the most dominant skiers of the weekend. Pinheiro Braathen held onto third, completing a wild podium mix of Swiss, Norwegian, and Brazilian flags.
Final Podium:
1st Loïc Meillard (SUI) – 1:58.24
2nd Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) +0.21
3rd Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) +0.47
The 2025 regular season ended with a spectacular battle, but the fight for the slalom globe wasn’t over yet. All eyes now turn to the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, where Kristoffersen will look to defend his season title lead and the world’s best will battle for one last victory.
Loïc Meillard on His Dream Weekend and the Slalom Title Fight:
“Winning both races this weekend is a dream for a tech skier, and to have it happen here in Hafjell is pretty amazing. The fight for the slalom globe isn’t over yet—I need to ski at my best in Sun Valley, and Henrik needs to struggle a bit for it to happen. It’s going to be a great battle until the end, and like today, I’ll give it everything and see where it takes me.”
Lie McGrath Rises to the Occasion on Home Snow
“First run I skied more stable, second run I felt like I got more after it,” McGrath said of his first World Cup slalom race on his home hill.
“Skiing on home snow was so much different than I thought. It was more nerves and then also a lot cooler, so I’m very fortunate to be able to put down such a good result.”
Pinheiro Braathen’s Emotional Podium on Familiar Snow
“I thought I had it today. I thought today was going to be the day where Brazil takes home its first World Cup victory.”
“I don’t know if I could ever put a number to the amount of runs that I’ve skied on this very hill—so much of my foundation as a skier is laid here on this very soil.”
“This is one of those days where you get to live the peak. There are many shitty days and many tough days underneath the success like today, but that’s exactly why it tastes so sweet.”
“It goes without saying that getting to share this moment with my friend Atle—quite frankly, it’s incredible. I’m beyond proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish.”
Early Leaders Shake Up the Standings in Hafjell’s Regular Season Finale
The final run of the 2025 World Cup regular season began under clear skies in Hafjell, with bright sunlight illuminating the Olympia-Løypa course. The 30 fastest men from the first run charged out of the start gate, with a mix of seasoned veterans, rising stars, and World Cup podium contenders battling for their final shot at regular-season glory.
Sandvik and Zenhäusern Soar Up the Standings
The early action was all about Norway’s Oscar Andreas Sandvik (bib 47) and Switzerland’s Ramon Zenhäusern (bib 31).
Sandvik, skiing in his first-ever World Cup second run, delivered a stunning performance for the home crowd. Attacking the course with confidence, he jumped 10 positions on the leaderboard and secured his first career World Cup points—a breakthrough moment on home snow.
But Zenhäusern, the 6-foot-8 Swiss veteran, had an answer. Once a slalom powerhouse, he skied a brilliant second run and also climbed 10 spots in the standings, taking the lead early and holding off all challengers through the first wave of finishers.
At the Halfway Mark: Zenhäusern Holds, Sandvik in Podium Position
With 15 skiers down and 15 still to go, Zenhäusern remained in the lead, while Croatia’s Istok Rodes (bib 36) delivered a strong performance to move into second place. Sandvik, despite dropping a position, still sat in third, holding onto a potential career-first top-10 finish.
With the 15 fastest men from the first run still waiting at the top, the battle for the last regular-season slalom podium was only just beginning. Would Zenhäusern’s time hold up, or would the top-ranked skiers find more speed?
Billy Major Breaks Through as Zenhäusern’s Climb Stalls
As the second run progressed, Great Britain’s Billy Major (bib 39) seized the moment, delivering the breakthrough performance needed to unseat Switzerland’s Ramon Zenhäusern, who had held the leader’s chair for an extended stretch. Major’s aggressive, well-timed run finally knocked the Swiss veteran from the top spot, but Zenhäusern’s remarkable climb wasn’t over. By the end of the race, the former slalom star had gained 16 places to finish 1oth, securing his best result of the season in a thrilling comeback..
With just the 10 fastest skiers from the first run left to start, Major held the lead, Zenhäusern sat in second, and France’s Victor Muffat-Jeandet (bib 25) had slotted into third. The leaderboard had stabilized for the moment, with no changes as the next few racers came down.
With eight skiers still waiting at the top, the tension was building. Would the top-ranked racers from the first run take control, or would Major’s time continue to hold up?
Ritchie Qualifies for His First World Cup Finals, Seymour Falls Short
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team had mixed results in Hafjell’s regular season slalom finale, with Ben Ritchie securing his first-ever World Cup Finals qualification, while Jett Seymour’s season came to an end.
Ritchie, who started 11th, had a strong opening but lost time in the latter half, finishing 14th (+1.82). His best split came in Sector 3, where he was 4th fastest, but he couldn’t maintain that speed through the finish. Still, his performance secured enough points to qualify for his first-ever World Cup Finals in Sun Valley.
Seymour, sitting 18th after the first run, needed a career-best result to break into the top 25 and qualify, but despite an aggressive effort, a costly mistake pushed him down the standings. He finished 27th (+2.93), missing out on Finals qualification.
Jett Seymour Reflects on His Season and Looks Ahead
“Today was solid. It was nice to end the season with a good first run, and I was glad to push in the second run even with the mistakes,” Seymour said. “This season was overall good, but the consistency was just missing a bit. I definitely made some big improvements in my skiing—just need to dial it in every day.”
“I will most definitely be taking a break after this season; it really took a lot out of me, and I had to dig pretty deep to try and show my best skiing every day. Then, lift some weights and get back into doing it all over again.”
While Seymour’s season ends in Hafjell, Ritchie will take on the world’s best in Sun Valley, making his first appearance at the World Cup Finals.
Results:
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Analysis of the Fastest Three
About the Author: Peter Lange
