The “new” Haugan targets Levi and a World Cup dream; his back is fine, but the Norwegian ace reveals a technical problem that has just been solved

Timon Haugan is among the most eagerly awaited men for the slalom opener, namely the Levi race that the men will tackle on Sunday (first run at 10:00, decisive run from 13:00).

Certainly, the start of the season was not the best for the Scandinavian born in 1996, who failed to qualify in the Soelden giant slalom after making a serious mistake on the Rettenbach steep section. However, it is clear that the season’s major objectives for the spearhead of the “Hirscher stable” (following Kristoffersen’s departure for Van Deer) are linked above all to the tight poles. Haugan will once again target the crystal globe that has been his declared objective for years and which, despite already winning six times in the discipline, has still eluded him.

The challenge on Levi Black will begin a very long journey of 13 races, also for the man who won the last slalom held, the one at the March finals in Hafjell, where his teammate McGrath was crowned with the discipline globe. The two of them, together with evergreen Henrik Kristoffersen, are precisely the first three athletes in the WCSL at the start of this 2026/27 season, to be tackled with coach Simone Del Dio still at the helm, following the Ligurian coach’s arrival last year.

Timon spoke a few days before the Levi race and, as had already emerged during the preparation period in New Zealand that began in August, fortunately the major back problems that affected him in 2025/26 seem to be behind him, although he still has to manage them carefully. One of the Norwegian aces has instead revealed that he had to contend with a technical problem that robbed him of the confidence needed to keep pushing the accelerator in his usual manner. As reported by Ski Racing Media, which took part in the online press conference organised by the staff, the reason Haugan was unable to find his usual feeling was to be found in the adjustment of the ski plate: a configuration modified in April was only discovered a few days ago to be not exactly in line with the parameters Timon prefers.

Returning to the previous setup, as in the last four years, the feeling has returned, but the Scandinavian slalom and giant slalom specialist spoke about how the confidence lost during so many training sessions is not so easy to regain: “Yes, I had quite a few difficulties right from the camp in New Zealand and I wondered whether it was down to my equipment, because I could feel that something was wrong and I couldn’t really understand what it was.

There is an adjustment that can be made to the plate which changes the ski’s feeling of aggressiveness,” Timon continued, going into detail. “When I don’t get the help in the turn that I am used to, my technique becomes imprecise and now, after weeks with an incorrect setup, I feel that I have acquired some bad habits that I did not have before. The last training sessions have been good, but not yet at the level I would like for the first slalom race.

I hope that, after the final training session on Saturday in Levi, things will go better so I can really attack at 100% on Sunday”.

More generally, “I had a good summer, with dry-land training in which I worked on my back muscles. Now I have practically no pain anymore, which is fantastic. Also, not having the daily stress of waking up knowing that you have to give your maximum in a race clearly helped me during these months, after all the problems of last year”.

As for his objectives for the winter that will culminate in the World Championships in Crans-Montana, here are his thoughts: “First of all, I want to stay injury-free and, hopefully, win a few races. At every start I will aim to stand on the top step of the podium, because I feel I can give more and I want to take another step forward, in giant slalom as well, while becoming more consistent in slalom.

In the recent past I have gone through difficult moments, going from the lowest point to the highest point in just a few days, so I know that this situation (of physical stability, ed.) may not last long”.

One of the new developments for 2026/27 concerns partner Red Bull, following the agreement with the Norwegian ski federation that has “freed” its big names to wear the famous energy-drink brand on their helmets: “I remember that one of my first sponsored items was a Sweet Protection helmet, which I got through one of the retailers in Oppdal. I grew up going to that shop and admiring all the best equipment from every brand for every sport.

It has been 13 years since I received my first helmet and a pair of Oakley goggles as a gift, and it was a memorable day. And now it still feels a little unreal to compete as a Red Bull athlete; I don’t think any athlete, in any sport, would turn down sponsorship like that, because we are talking about a prestigious brand that shows you have achieved something important.

Being part of it can open many doors and offer you countless opportunities. I am honoured and grateful; I think the little Timon who used to wander around the shop in Oppdal would be thrilled”.