Lucas Braathen (22) has more World Cup victories so far this winter than Henrik Kristoffersen (28). Now he also gets the opportunity to have his own sponsorship agreement with Red Bull.
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The Norwegian Ski Association and Red Bull agreements have often been a topic of contention:
- Henrik Kristoffersen had a year-long legal dispute with the ski association over the exposure of his Red Bull deal.
- Aksel Lund Svindal was once forced to remove the Red Bull logo from his helmet.
- There was also a lot of fuss about Petter Northug’s deal with Red Bull. It ended with Northug being allowed to drink Red Bull after he entered the interview zone.
On Sunday, after third place in Wengen, Lucas Braathen posed with Red Bull in hand in a TV interview. To VG he explains:
– A childhood dream has come true!
– Explain?
– It is a long process that has finally arrived at a collaboration. I am extremely proud of it. There will be more information about this, says Braathen.
– You mean a long process with the Norwegian Ski Association?
– The Norwegian Ski Association is, after all, the “service way” to go. But it has been a longer process with the partner even how we should do it. But as I said – there will be more information about this, he says and does not want to give more details.
Alpine manager Claus Ryste in the Norwegian Ski Association says that there have been no problems with this agreement:
– The athletes in alpine skiing dispose of their drinking bottle themselves, and Lucas has now entered into a partnership with Red Bull on it.
– So there have been no contradictions when it comes to this agreement?
– No, replies the sports manager.
Norway’s slalom and giant slalom racers have ruled the World Cup this season. In Wengen on Sunday, Henrik Kristoffersen won the slalom ahead of home hopes Loic Meillard and Braathen – and with Atle Lie McGrath in 5th place and with Alexander Steen Olsen in 14th place.
So far this season, Lucas Braathen has three World Cup victories, two of them in slalom, while Kristoffersen took his second victory of the season on Sunday. In return, Kristoffersen has a total of seven podium positions and is the best of them overall in the World Cup.
– It has been really cool lately. I am so proud of what this team achieves, says Braathen to VG.
– What do you think about the duels with Henrik Kristoffersen?
– It’s so cool to stand on the starting line and know that the victory will be so close.
– So you get better from this duel?
– Yes, no doubt! I think it’s healthy and makes us even better, he says.
Now the Norwegian alpinists are looking forward to the continuation:
– First seven hours by car to Austria, then two days off, and then we are super geared for Kitzbühel and double Schladming, says Atle Lie McGrath.
– These four chutes with Adelboden, Wengen, Kitzbühel and Schladming are the cream of the crop.
– So is the World Cup coming?
– Yes, then comes the WC – packed with new opportunities.
Published: 16.01.23 at 07:06
