Young idols and golden oldies show that age is just a number in Alpine

In some sports – think gymnastics, figure skating or skateboarding – youth reigns supreme. In others, like road cycling, years of physical development are needed, and athletes peak much later.

 Alpine skiing however, is far less predictable: both young guns and veterans can climb to the top of the podium on their day, or fight for the crystal globes. Both groups excelled on the FIS World Cup Tour this season.

Federica Brignone is a fine example: the 33-year-old Italian has had 13 podiums, six of them wins, in 2023-24, to log by far the best return of her 14 seasons on tour. What is it down to? “The good, hard work I had this summer, I had no problems and was good with my mind,” she said. “If I could go back in October and offer myself these results, I would have signed right away."

'My passion is the highest force I have'

“Every year I start from a step up. It’s not easier, but if everything is good with my mind and body I feel I need less skiing. I can find the sensations right away. With my body I have done a lot of work over the years, I start from a higher level. This year I had fun training. I was always fast. I just tried to reproduce that in races, and it went right many times.

 “I’ve worked a lot with my physical coach. Working on my head, on my respiration, with hypnosis and meditation. But this is many years. All the work is paying off year by year, even more. My passion is the highest force I have to reach my goal.

 “There is no secret. Just doing the right job. If you see how I was skiing 15 years ago and today, you can see a lot of change. Gliding was always my worst and we have worked a lot on that.

“All my victories this year have been crazy and really fun, and playing for the overall was an honour. This has always been my dream.”

Lara Gut Behrami has been the most obviously successful veteran: at 32 she bagged the GS, super-G and overall globes. Dominik Paris, 34 also had a fantastic winter, while Christof Innerhofer, and Adrien Theaux, both 39, continued to defy their years.

At the other end of the scale? Zrinka Ljutic, 20, has made huge breakthroughs, as have Dzenifera Germane, 21, Lauren Macuga, 21, Arnaud Boisset, 25 and Steven Amiez, 25.

Swiss sensation Franjo Von Allmen, 22, also made it into the top 15. “I look at a really good season, there are races that could be better but I’m really happy,” he said. “I really didn’t expect my first podium. I had some bad races – Kitzbuel, Bormio – but it’s my first season. I can be happy and I learned a lot of stuff. I’m hyped for the second season.”

Having a teammate like Marco Odermatt certainly doesn’t harm your development. “For sure he gives us motivation and pushes the whole team,” said Allmen. “He shows what is possible. “There are a lot of puzzles we can put together. You also need to do your own thing, but it has worked in harmony. We have a cool team, we do jokes, it is a lot of fun.”

Allmen can’t quite pinpoint what has gone right. “It’s difficult to say my qualities as an athlete,” he said. “Some things are good, but I also have a lot to learn. I need to learn to take less risks and be more safe on the skis. I am ready to work.”

He takes comparisons to Swiss downhill great Beat Feuz as a huge compliment. “It’s a big honour to be compared to Beat. There are some points to compare but I am my own athlete. We are different racers.”

And his ambitions? “Everything sounds good,” he said. “Of course everyone’s dream is a globe or Olympic medal. But we take it year by year.”

Thomas Tumler is another Swiss team member who inspires Allmen, for his consistency. Tumler, 34, remains as ambitious as the man 12 years his junior – and has a similar approach.

 “I will keep pushing to the limit,” he said. “I want to go to the World Championships next year. I am very happy and I don’t think about retirement yet. I will see, race by race. My goal this season was to stay in the top 15, so to be in the top group was a dream come true for me. I am delighted.”

His GS podium in Saalbach ticked off one thing on his bucket list – “to be on a podium with Marco.”

“It was because of a lot of work, a lot of dreams. I was standing up more times that I fell down. The good team results encouraged me to go on and never quit this sport, I am very happy I am still here.

“Marco helps me go full gas. He gives me a lot of tips. The team works very good, we have the same methods, I am happy that I have Marco in front of me. I am proud of my consistency. Now I am every race in the top 25, that makes me very proud, I hope I can go on with this.”

And how long might that be? “I don’t make plans, sometimes they turn out different. I don’t know if it is one year more or five years more. I am inspired by Clary, so we will see. I try to be a role model too. It’s difficult when we have Odermatt, but maybe if the young guns have a problem, I can help them.”

It’s all about fire in the belly: so back to Brignone. “I am still hungry,” she said. “You can see it when I train and race, I am still here, I still want to do well, I like to be an athlete. Last year I still wanted to show something to myself. I feel I still had something to give to my sport.

"I achieved so much already, I never thought it was possible to win so much, I don’t have anything I really want, but I just want to still show my best skiing, and make the impossible possible.

“I won’t go on unless I’m doing everything 100 per cent. I don’t know how many years I am doing, but I think I’ll go on for another year.”