When he looks ahead to the World Ski Championships in Saalbach, he has a vision: "Winning gold and standing on the podium with a teammate from VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports!" Timon's tailormade transformation to the top of the world has coincided with his move to Marcel Hirscher's ski racing team. He tells us in a fascinating conversation just what he thinks about the return of ‘the boss’ to alpine ski racing.
Back in the summer of 2022, he and Henrik Kristoffersen were the very first to join the VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports race team. It remains one of the most inspiring stories in skiing history as Marcel Hirscher launched a ski startup that saw him reunite with his toughest competitor of old, Henrik Kristoffersen, and enjoy a simply sensational start with World Cup victories and a World Championship gold in its very first season. That was around the time Timon was beginning his tailormade transformation to the top of the world. In the last World Cup slalom race of last winter, something that had been on the cards for a long time finally happened - the international skiing elite congratulated him on his first World Cup victory! That all came at the finish area of the slope where World Championship medals will be awarded in less than six months. He says: "When I think of the World Ski Championships and Saalbach, I always see the same image. Winning gold and standing on the podium with a teammate from VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports."
Who will be the lucky teammate joining him on the podium!? Timon flashes a friendly smile – and keeps stumm.
Many in skiing believe that the World Championship winter can be the most successful in Timon's career so far. His organic development as a racer over the years has given him everything he needs physically, mentally and technically, while his results show that he is definitely approaching a peak in performance. His switch to VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports has proven to be a gamechanger: "Of course it was a new brand, but it wasn't just any new ski brand – VAN DEER was, is and remains the creation of Marcel Hirscher and is a team of the world's top ski racing experts. The way we have developed since then proves we were right, as we have huge potential, and in a few years there will be even more top athletes in the team." There is the distinct sound of confidence and optimism in his voice – and nothing can be more powerful than the knowledge of having made the right decision at the right time.
Timon Haugan goes into the new winter with extensive World Cup experience from 60 slaloms and 33 giant slaloms, as well as six weeks of ideal preparations in New Zealand behind him. If everything goes according to plan, he will compete in his 100th World Cup race in Levi. "Before that, we will have two or three weeks of strength and conditioning training in Norway before we move to Austria for snow training - and then the season can start in Sölden," he says, describing his plans.
Does Timon Haugan have a particular mantra he will stick to in his eighth World Cup winter to help him fulfil his dream of gold at the World Championships? "No, I’ll stick with the same simple plan - skiing as fast as I possibly can and faster than everyone else, if I can. The boss will want to do the same," Timon says with an amusing nod to the planned return of Marcel Hirscher to ski racing.
What are his thoughts on the legend’s return? "Honestly!? With anyone else, I would have thought the idea was completely crazy and said: ‘Forget it!’ It's different with Marcel though. I know how well he kept in shape during his very long retirement. We met briefly in Roundhill in New Zealand, but we didn't train together. It's just incredible for the sport, and for all of us that Marcel is coming back! Simply the way he is going about his project is an inspiration. I totally believe he can finish on the podium again. If he didn't think it was possible himself, he wouldn't be doing it. I wasn't good enough to be in a winner's photo with him when he was competing – if that happens now, then of course it would be a dream. That will also be something to show my children and grandchildren."