WENGEN, Switzerland – Atle Lie McGrath recorded the quickest time during the first leg of a World Cup slalom event on Sunday, showcasing his excitement by paying homage to Swiss skiing legend Didier Cuche with a signature ski flip.
The Norwegian, who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Norway, sported bib No. 4 as he wrapped up the initial run with the best time, then honored Cuche by emulating his post-race move. Cuche, a retired downhill champion with 21 World Cup victories to his name before his retirement in 2012, had a unique celebratory gesture where he would elevate his right ski, flipping it end over end before catching it with his hand.
“I’m coming for you, Didier!” McGrath exclaimed cheerfully to the TV cameras at the finish area.
McGrath shared that Cuche is one of his idols, stating, “He told me last year in Kitzbühel that if I help teach his son how to ski slalom, he would show me the Cuche flip because I’m not that great at it.” The 24-year-old skier is following in a legacy of athletic excellence, as his father, Felix, was part of the U.S. team during the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
McGrath finished the first run with a time that was 0.43 seconds faster than teammate Henrik Kristoffersen, a three-time Wengen slalom winner. Tanguy Nef from Switzerland, competing with a lower bib No. 20, secured the third position, clocking in at 0.53 seconds behind the leader, setting the stage for a competitive afternoon run.
Another competitor, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, originally from Norway but representing Brazil, came in fifth, trailing McGrath by 0.82 seconds and striving to make history by achieving Brazil’s inaugural World Cup victory.
This isn’t McGrath’s first time leading after the initial run. He found himself in a similar position a year prior, finishing second to Austria’s Manuel Feller. “I’m ready this year,” McGrath stated in an interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS. “I’m going to give it my all and pour my emotions onto the slope to see what I can achieve.”
Meanwhile, Ben Ritchie from the U.S. impressed by clocking the eighth-fastest time despite starting with bib No. 28, finishing just 0.97 seconds behind McGrath and only half a second from securing a spot on the podium.
The weather shifted from Saturday’s sunny skies during the traditional Lauberhorn downhill race to a cloudier atmosphere for the slalom event that operates on a separate slope, yet shares the same finish area.
