Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history in Levi today, clinching the country’s first-ever Alpine Skiing World Cup victory. Team GB had three in the top 30 while British racers Laurie Taylor and Dave Ryding impressed with fourth and seventh place finishes, with Taylor’s performance his best to date.
25-year-old Braathen, who originally raced for his father’s nation Norway but last winter switched to his mother’s delivering Brazil’s first World Cup win, holding his nerve after a commanding first run to edge out France’s Olympic champion Clément Noël by 0.31 seconds.
Braathen described the win as “a victory for myself, for my friends, for my family, for Brazil, and for individuality.”
Britain’s Laurie Taylor nearly stole the show. Starting 15th after the first run, Taylor clocked the fastest second run of the day to finish just 0.04 seconds off the podium in fourth, his best ever result. Dave Ryding also moved up the rankings on his second run, finishing seventh with fellow Brit Billy Major also in the top 30.
Braathen’s win places him joint top of the overall World Cup standings alongside Swiss star Marco Odermatt, who won the season opening giant slalom in Sölden last month.
Next up is the Gurgl World Cup slalom which will take place next weekend on November 22nd and 23rd, 2025, with a men’s slalom on Saturday and a women’s slalom on Sunday in Hochgurgl.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen seen during a press conference at Hangar 7 in Salzburg, Austria on March 7, 2024. // Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool
