The result puts Braathen at the top of the slalom point standings. His key rival, Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), finished 37th on the first run after a major error, and didn’t make it to the showdown.
The second run was also treacherous, with a track that got increasingly cut up, but Braathen, who has recently struggled with DNFs after perhaps pushing too hard, calculated his turns here to perfection.
Perhaps illustrating his all-or-nothing approach, all his podiums this season have been wins. But despite the DNFs, 22-year-old Braathen is already having the best season of his career. He has also lifted the GS title in Alta Badia, and the slalom in Val d’Isere.
This was his third World Cup career slalom victory; he also triumphed in Wengen in January 2022.
He is the youngest winner of a slalom at Adelboden since Kristoffersen broke the record in 2017.
At the bottom, roared on by a rowdy Adelboden crowd, Braathen wrestled with his second-placed teammate.
“The work Atle and I have put in together, and with our team in Norway, that’s how we are where we are today,” said Braathen.
“To bounce back and trust the process we’ve worked on as a team, that’s the key.”
McGrath (NOR) – another racer who epitomises the Attacking Vikings philosophy – hadn’t managed to finish a slalom yet this season, and was just as delighted as Braathen.
“I wanted to push the limits in a smart way,” he said. “I was really nervous after going out in the GS yesterday, and I tried to reset, I took some deep breaths.
“I did a safe first run and I experienced that amazing atmosphere. When I came in with green lights [on the second run], wow, I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”
