Camille Rast: Photo Peter Gerber Plech
Camille Rast’s Relaxed Mindset Keeps Her Fast — Even in Giant Slalom
Rising Into a New Season
The World Cup season opens Saturday (Oct. 25) in Sölden, and slalom world champion Camille Rast (HEAD) is ready. The 26-year-old Swiss skier focused more on giant slalom training this summer, hoping to fight regularly for top-seven finishes. The Olympic year begins with confidence—and calm.
Rast enters the 2025-26 season after a breakthrough winter that changed her career. She earned her first World Cup podiums in November 2024, followed by back-to-back slalom victories in December and January. Then came the defining moment: gold in the 2025 World Championships slalom in Saalbach.
“It took time to realize everything that happened last winter,” Rast said at a media event in Dübendorf. “But the results don’t add pressure. I don’t have to prove anything—I can ski free.”
That freedom, she believes, is what makes her dangerous. When Rast races with joy and a clear mind, she’s usually fast.
From Setbacks to Strength
Her path hasn’t been smooth. As a highly touted junior world champion in 2017, Rast faced a crushing setback when mononucleosis drained her energy before the 2018 Olympic selection. Physically she recovered, but mentally she fell into a dark stretch of depression.
She fought back, only to suffer an ACL tear at the 2019 Swiss Championships. Her Instagram post then read: “Dear slalom, I love you—but sometimes love hurts.”
“That’s a long time ago,” Rast said. “It’s part of me, but now I want to speak about my present and my future. I’ve also experienced so many positive things in my career.”
The Champion Returns
Rast’s steady climb back reached its peak in Saalbach. With a brilliant first run, she built a 0.58-second lead and held it to the finish—becoming the first Swiss slalom world champion in 34 years, since Vreni Schneider. She later revealed that Federica Brignone’s joyful attitude during her own GS world title run had inspired her.
“My recipe was simple,” Rast said. “I wanted to have fun. If it worked—great. If not, that was fine too.”
Her success carried into the offseason. Rast switched equipment, returning from Salomon to HEAD, and says the move helped her find even more comfort on snow.
A Dynamic Training Group
Although a hip injury from Sestriere still lingers slightly, Rast says she feels healthy. “I’m not quite at 100 percent yet, but I’m close,” she said. “I just need a bit of patience.”
She now trains under Heini Pfitscher with a strong Swiss women’s group that includes Wendy Holdener, Mélanie Meillard, Eliane Christen, Aline Danioth, and Aline Höpli. “It’s really fun to be back with Eliane, Mélanie, and Aline—like before. We’re a dynamic group, and we laugh a lot,” she said.
Building Toward Giant Slalom Goals
Rast has emphasized giant slalom more than ever. Last season, she finished eight of nine GS races, earning her first podium—a third place in Killington—and landing in the Top 10 almost every weekend.
“I’d like to be in the Top 7 consistently,” she said. “We’ll see what happens. You keep learning through your career. I want to use that experience, keep the fun, and stay healthy.”
Eyes on the Olympics
The Olympic Games remain months away, but Rast already looks forward to them. “If I qualify, that day won’t feel much different from a World Cup,” she said. “If everything clicks, great. If not, I’ll have another chance in four years.”
It’s the same mindset that brought her world gold: a mix of joy, trust, and patience. For Camille Rast, staying relaxed might just keep her fastest.
Information for this report was provided by skinews.ch.
About the Author: Peter Gerber Plech
