Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made a statement in Levi, Finland, storming to victory in the opening race of the 2025-26 men’s slalom Alpine World Cup tour.

Braathen was lethal on the snow, topping the standings after a pair of flawless runs and winning a historic first Alpine World Cup victory for Brazil. The win is his first since switching his allegiance from Norway to Brazil during the 2023-24 season.

In second place was defending Olympic slalom champion Clement Noel, who put on a technical clinic in Levi from start to finish. The French star finished a total of three tenths behind Braathen. Finnish hero and rising talent Eduard Hallberg also had an electric race, dazzling his hometown crowd with a third-place ski to stand on his first ever World Cup podium. 

In a surprise result, the top two ranked men’s slalom skiers in the world both struggled in Levi. Slalom Crystal Globe winner in 2024-25, Henrik Kristoffersen from Norway, finished in 13, while a mistake from world No. 2 Loic Meillard of Switzerland dropped him into 14.

For Team USA, the star of the day was up-and-comer Cooper Puckett. It was a major milestone for the 22-year-old skier, who not only qualified for his first ever second run in a World Cup slalom event, but also scored his first ever career World Cup points after finishing in 26th place.

Outside of Puckett’s points, it was a difficult day for a U.S. men’s team that sent five athletes to the starting gate. After a strong first run, U.S. slalom talent Ben Ritchie stumbled in the second run, ending up with a surprise DNF after splitting one of the gates. 

Two other Americans completed their first runs in Levi, with Luke Winters and Jett Seymour finishing in 49th and 60th respectively and failing to qualify for run two. Stanley Buzek did not finish his first run.

After a pair of compelling opening races of the 2025-26 men’s and women’s slalom World Cup season, the athletes will prepare for a rapid turnaround as they travel to Gurgl, Austria for the second slalom race of the season. The men will kick off the weekend on Saturday, November 22. The event will stream live on Peacock starting at 4:30 a.m. ET.