Lucas Pinheiro Braathen hopes to conquer the world of skiing with his private team

He is writing one of the most exciting stories of the new World Cup winter, which begins this weekend. That's what this great story is about: Lucas Pinheiro Braathen returns after a year off and wants to put on a ski show as a Brazilian.

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Last winter was great from a Swiss point of view: Lara Gut-Behrami and Marco Odermatt won the overall World Cup title. On an international level, Odermatt's dominance has been both remarkable and tiring.

Lucas Braathen's comeback is a great opportunity for the ski community. A year after retiring amid a dispute with the Norwegian Ski Association, the slalom artist returns with a reputation as a bird of paradise. He now calls himself Lucas Pinheiro and sets off for Brazil, the home country of his mother Alessandra.

When Pinheiro has something to say, reporters swarm him.Picture: www.imago-images.de

“It’s the story that matters”

«I am a performer. We are here because it is entertainment,” Pinheiro said on Thursday at Sölden High, on Gaislachkogl, 3,048 meters above sea level. «If you believe only skiing, go around the plastic gate That’s the focus, then you’re too naive. What’s important is the story behind it.”

One person who understood this early on was its main sponsor Red Bull. Everyone knows that when energy drink manufacturers do something, it's done right. This is how Pinheiro prepares things with a big spoon.

Herschel's successful coach takes over

The Brazilian's private team consists of nine people. “Allgäu Zeitung” recalled that Gut-Behrami also always trained himself and never hired more than five employees. The Brassons do not deny estimates of annual expenditures exceeding one million francs.

Braathen won the little crystal ball for best slalom skier for the 2022/23 winter season with three ski coaches. One of these was Mike Pircher, the long-time successful trainer of Marcel Hirscher. Kurt Kothbauer, who is in charge of strength and conditioning, has joined from Odermatt, and Englishman Charlie Raposo, a World Cup rider last season, handles media duties.

Björn Braathen, 24, is the son of a manager. Also on the payroll are a physical therapist and a personal photographer. Like the stars of the scene, service personnel are provided by the manufacturer, in this case ski brand Atomic.

Kristofferson’s comments after joint training

“We don't hire people to tell them what to do, but to tell us what to do,” Pinheiro said, according to Austrian newspaper “Standard”. As a solo skier, he often has to work with others Team up and train on the mountain. Among other things, the returnee is on the slopes with fellow Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen. «He is not slow. But neither did I,” said Kristoffersen, who has not shared the stage with the Norwegian Society for a long time and is therefore traveling alone.

Lucas Pinheiro wants to do what Lucas Braathen has done five times: win a World Cup match. “I won’t stop until I reach the top,” he declared. But sporting success is only one aspect. He also wants to become a role model through his comeback. “I want to show and set an example for everyone: 'You can be anything you want, no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from.'”

Grossi prays in Brazil

The second part of Lucas Pinheiro's career begins on Sunday. In 2020 he won his first title at the highest level in Sölden. After all, the Brazilian will compete with a starting number over 30, and victory may still be out of reach. But winter is expected to return.

His last championship to date: Braassen will win the slalom in 2023 at the Chuenisbärgli in Adelboden.Image: KEYSTONE

Perhaps the millions of Brazilians sitting in front of their televisions have only heard of wakeboarding. Pinheiro was happy for his grandmother to see him play for the first time. There is an anecdote in this story that the performer is writing. He knew exactly how things should end: