Lucas Braathen gets Kitzbühel in the party mood

The 23-year-old maverick and people’s darling is dancing from one event to the other during Hahnenkamm Race week. The Norwegian has close ties with Kitzbühel.

Kitzbühel and Lucas Braathen, that’s a little love story which is made up of many mosaic pieces: his father lives here, he has skied here often since a very young age, the Slalom on the Ganslern is one of his favourite races (4th place in his first outing in 2020) and after his retirement in Sölden in October 2023, he stopped over in Kitzbühel for a drink.

Now back in Kitzbühel for the Hahnenkamm Races, he’s ticking off appointments from his list, day after day. On Thursday afternoon he recorded a podcast with Felix Neureuther, before heading off to spin the turntables at Beyond Kitz in the night: "I don't DJ that often, but if I’m attracted to the concept, I’ll be there. I love music – that goes without saying, for a half Brazilian." He had house, deep house, afro beats and Latin house in his programme "an unusual mix for Kitzbühel", he admits.

On Monday, the 23-year-old met Hansi Hinterseer at the Seidlalm as part of "Sport & Talk" TV show and the warm rapport between the two was obvious to the audience: "Hansi is a legend and, more importantly, he is kind and friendly," enthuses Lucas Braathen. And what does he think of Hansi Hinterseer's music: "Awesome! I've often danced to it with my friends," he said, before disappearing into the Hahnenkamm hubbub, sporting his Stetson cowboy hat and winter moccasins.