Media conference with Team Telenor Alpine Norway and Helly Hansen in Soelden

Ski Paradise
Oct 28
10 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Last October 23, at the Bergland Hotel in Soelden, we attended the annual Media conference with Team Telenor Alpine Norway and Helly Hansen ahead of the Alpine Ski World Cup Season Opener. — Media conference with Team Telenor Alpine Norway and Helly Hansen. Picture: Ski Paradise

Last October 23, at the Bergland Hotel in Soelden, we were invited to attend the annual Media conference with Team Telenor Alpine Norway and Helly Hansen ahead of the Alpine Ski World Cup Season Opener.

The collaboration between the Norwegian Alpine Ski Team and Helly Hansen as the team's clothing supplier was announced in Sölden in 2022. The eight-year agreement between the Norwegian Ski Association and Helly Hansen makes Helly Hansen the Alpine Team's official partner and supplier of clothing and other equipment.

Founded in Norway in 1877, Helly Hansen is a leader in technical sailing and performance ski apparel, as well as premium workwear. Its uniforms are worn and trusted by more than 55,000 professionals. They can be found among Olympians and national teams, as well as at over 200 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations around the world.

The company has developed a long list of first-to-market innovations, including the first supple waterproof fabrics more than 140 years ago.

Professional skiers around the globe rely on and trust Helly Hansen. The partnership with the Norwegian Alpine Ski Team is a strategic choice that aligns with their values. As a leader in technical ski apparel, Helly Hansen is committed to developing performance-driven gear that provides athletes with a competitive edge in both training and competition.

Thea Louise Stjernesund was involved in the design of the new Helly Hansen team collection. “It’s great that HH really listens to what we need on the hill,” she said. “They care about every small detail that makes our job easier—materials, fit, functionality. It all matters.”

Ski Paradise had the opportunity to interview two members of the Alpine Ski Team from Norway at the event. Below, you can find the full interviews with Atle Lie McGrath and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.

Atle Lie McGrath

IG: @atleliemcgrath

Hi Atle. Nice to see you again. How was your summer?

"My summer was really nice. Actually, I got to spend a lot of time with my family. I got to travel. I have a family reunion in the US with my American family and just had a great, a really good summer, actually".

And your training season?

"Training has been great as well. This summer, I worked out so hard. It's easy to stay motivated when the Olympics are coming and lots of big races, so I'm just excited. Like, the dryland training was great, and the ski training has been really good as well, so I'm excited where I am".

We would like to take you through some key moments from your last season. You finished 13th in Soelden and 12th in Levi. However, you made progress in Slalom while facing challenges in GS. Your performance showed some inconsistency, with 12 starts in Slalom resulting in 5 podium finishes, whereas you only achieved 1 podium in GS from 9 starts.

"No, for sure my Slalom, I'm more consistent in my Slalom, I would say my top level is almost the same in Slalom and GS, but it's something, for some reason, Slalom has always been a little bit more natural to me. I get to it, it's something about going through the gates and not around them, where the timing is sometimes a bit easier. So my consistency in Slalom last year was great. The only thing I regret is skiing out or DNF in the races where I skied my best, like in Madonna, Adelboden, and Kitzbühel. But in general, I skied really well the whole season, so I'm going to just keep focusing on trying to get even better there. And GS, my consistency is it's tough. I mean, you can even see Marco last year, you know, he went out in the first two races. It's just physically, it's probably the toughest event because it's two runs, and they're long. And then also, mentally, it's you just need to be able to risk. So, I mean, I had, until Christmas last year, I felt like I was really stable. I had a great season. But then, after Christmas, it just started going a little bit fighting, a little bit against me. So, all in all, I'm positive about the changes and the progression I've made in GS and Slalom this last winter."

January was a key moment for you. Because you went from Madonna first in the first run and then, oh my god! DNF. And then Adelboden, two DNFs again. But back then, you won in Wengen. Amazing! How did you recover from three straight DNFs to your first win in two and a half years?

"That was, yeah..., that was actually some of the most challenging times in my career. Because I came into after Christmas and I knew I was skiing so well. And to lead the first run in Madonna, which is a legendary race, by that much was very cool, very fun. And when I was at the start, I just had this feeling that I was going to win, and I knew I had over a second lead, but my goal was, I'm going to win by two seconds.

I knew I was going to do it. And then I went and straddled, that is racing, You know..., it comes back whenever you get a little bit too comfortable; it comes and bites you. So that was really tough. And then Adelboden was tough as well. But the good thing about Madonna and Adelboden was that I skied so well. It was some of my best Slalom and GS skiing ever. So actually, after Adelboden, I was super happy with how I skied. I was super proud of myself and really happy that, after I crashed in the GS, I was healthy. So that's why I was able to come in Wengen. My plan in the first run in Wengen was to ski slow or tactical and be maybe fifth place after the first run. But I didn't. I was leading after the first run. So to then go and again have a second on Timon and to go and actually win there and make the triple to Norway, that's my proudest moment."

Last season was amazing for the Norwegian team. You came from a very bad season with only one win for the Men's Team and then two triples. Yeah, Henrik, Timon, you, everyone on the top spot. What's the secret? What changed between the two seasons?

"In the 2023-2024 season, Lucas, you know, he quit or switched, which, for sure, you know he's a great skier, but that also puts a little bit of turbulence in the team. Alex suddenly got injured, and we had some really close calls, but in general, it was just a little bit off, just not much, just a couple percent. So we really focused last year on getting that percent back, and then to win triple in Soelden to begin and win. I think we won ten races on the Men's side. It was very good. Yeah, amazing!"

Your sixth start in Soelden this season, DNQ in 2019 and 2020, DNF in 2021. Then in 2022, 18, but seven in the first run, and finally, the podium last season.

"Yeah, this season!... I hope to keep the trend going upwards. I mean, Soelden is one of the races that I've done the most times because I did it really early in my career, and it's also probably the race where I've made the most mistakes.

So, you know, I like... yeah, last year was my fifth try, and it took me five years to actually ski a good race here. So I hope I've learned a lot. I've learned the hard way in Soelden. I think, you know, that's what they say: you learn a lot from your mistakes. And in Soelden, I made so many mistakes that now I hope that I can just last year I brought all my experience into this year. Also, bring the positive experience with me."

From my perspective, it's a pleasure to watch you ski due to your style and technique. At just 25 years old, you are undoubtedly in one of the best moments of your career. The future looks promising, and I believe you have the potential to be an overall winner. However, you'll need to add Super-G races. We discussed this in our last interview. You performed well in your only WC Super-G start, finishing fifth in Beaver Creek. Are you planning to include more Super-G events in your calendar?

Yeah, 100 percent! This year, I actually trained some Super-G during the pre-season. I'm looking to do a couple of the first Super-Gs this year in the US, Beaver Creek and Cooper. I would love to do them. It's tough. schedule because we have a Slalom Race in Gurgl right before, but I really want to do them, and I'm looking forward to it. It's so fun to do Super G, and the only reason why I haven't done it is that I tore my ACL in Super G, and I just struggled a bit with pain, so skiing Slalom in GS was enough for me at the moment. Now I feel like I've gotten more into it again, where I can start doing some more Super G, but I'm going to be smart about it".

Thank you very Muchas gracias.

It's a pleasure.

And I am going to get you a cinnamon roll the next time.

Please.

Thank you.

Atle Lie McGrath Statistics

FIS World Cup Starts: 92

FIS World Cup Podiums: 16

FIS World Cup Victories: 3

First World Cup Start: Adelboden GS 12.01.2019

First WC Points: Alta Badia Parallel Giant Slalom 23.12.2019

First WC Podium: Alta Badia GS 20.12.2020

First WC Victory: Flachau Slalom 09.03.2022

Last WC Victory: Wengen Slalom 19.01.2025

Last WC Podium: Sölden Giant Slalom 26.10.2025

Last season, 11 WC Top 10, including 6 podiums and one win in the Slalom in Wengen. (1 - 2 - 3).

Atle Lie McGrath claimed the silver medal at the Slalom in Saalbach 2025 Alpine World Ski Championships

PS: Like last season, Atle Lie McGrath finished again on the Sölden podium in third place. It's his fourth World Cup podium finish in the Giant Slalom. "After a pretty passive first run, I was really happy with how I executed and skied during the second run. It's really fun to be back on the podium," he said.

"I've learned from last season that one podium finish doesn't mean you're on top of the world; instead, it means you need to work even harder. However, it's awesome to start the season this way", he added.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde

IG: @akilde

Hi Alex. First, how is your shoulder?

"Shoulder is as it is, probably never going to be 100, but hopefully good enough to be able to ski or able to race. I know skiing works, but being competitive again, that's what I really look forward to".

Are you going to start in Cooper or in Beaver? Are you going to try the Super-G in Cooper?

"Yeah, I am in for Cooper. Just a little bit of a side note: if things are running the way I want in Cooper and the training, then it makes sense to do the Cooper race, but BeaverCreek is a downhill first downhill; that's always going to be my priority number one".

Last season for the Norwegian team was amazing; it's always amazing. The year before wasn't so good.

"That was a terrible year".

A lot of things happened.

What are your expectations for the young guns coming for this season for the team?

"I mean, they stand for the culture, they stand for working together, it's bringing results, and it's very, very cool to see that. And also being, I'm kind of a little bit proud, because I've been responsible for bringing the culture to the younger generation and trying to at least be a good role model. And I'm not going to take too much credit for it, but they have someone to look at, and that's how I look at it, too. I had really good role models as well, with Axkel, Kjetil, all of them, right? So for me to be able to be in that position as well brings me a lot of joy, and also now seeing results, that's kind of it's great; it's only smiles and happy thoughts".

Another question now outside the racing box. We come from Spain, but in winter we are based in Innsbruck, in Patsch, very close to you. We ate pizza in the same place, the Venezia.

Okay.

We saw you there sometimes.

Okay, cool!

And we collaborate with Innsbruck Tourism, promoting Innsbruck and its ski resorts in the international markets. How is it for you living in Innsbruck?

"The vibe is great! If you love skiing, it's the best place to be. And for me, I moved to Austria because of the practical part of things. I have a really good setup at Base Five and down in town, and now I bought my own place in Igls, which is a very beautiful place, brilliant view, and also with the woods. I just love walking there, doing hikes, and walking in the forest. We love it.

You know, it's a very, very nice place to be, and I'm not sure if I'm going to end up being there because I don't have much family and stuff, and friends, and Mikaela, you know, but it's a very nice place to have too, just when I'm a skier, to be able to drive a car around. It's so central, close to Munich, close to Switzerland, Italy, Germany. Yeah, it's so convenient. It's very convenient, and it's actually a super thing for my career, brilliant, so very happy about being there".

Yesterday we attended the online press conference with Michela Shiffrin, and I recognized the background because we also have it in front of our home.

Exactly! It's the same.

And I thought, Yeah, oh, that slope I know it.

Yeah, yeah. Great!

So we are really happy to have you back here and in the Alpine Ski World Cup.

Thank you!

All the best.

Thank you!

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Statistics

FIS World Cup Starts: 218

FIS World Cup Podiums: 48

FIS World Cup Victories: 21

First World Cup Start: Sölden GS 28.10.2012