US-born McGrath leads Norway sweep in World Cup slalom and celebrates with signature Cuche ski flip

By Canadian Press on January 19, 2025.

WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) — Atle Lie McGrath protected his first-run lead and completed a Norwegian sweep of the podium in a World Cup slalom on Sunday.

McGrath celebrated victory just as he did posting the fastest time in the morning run – flipping his right ski end over end and catching it, in the style for Swiss former downhill star Didier Cuche.

The United States-born Norwegian finished 0.18 seconds ahead of Timon Haugan, who was 10th-fastest in the first run. Henrik Kristoffersen was 0.29 back in third and extended his lead in the season-long slalom standings.

“It means a lot, it’s been three years since my last win,” a tearful McGrath said of his victory. “It’s so cool to come down and be a triple Norwegian win. I was so close last year, I’m a bit overwhelmed.”

Switzerland is still searching for a first slalom win at Wengen since 1987, though had Tanguy Nef, Loic Meillard and Daniel Yule finishing fourth, fifth and sixth.

McGrath, whose father Felix raced for the U.S. team at the 1988 Calgary Olympics, had described Cuche after his morning run as “one of my heroes.”

“He told me in Kitzbühel last year that if I taught his son how to ski slalom he would teach me the Cuche Flip because I’m so bad at it,” said the 24-year-old McGrath, who did it expertly twice Sunday.

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AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

The Associated Press