– I have to keep my cards close to my chest about what we have changed. I have to. Maybe we have something new that someone will notice, we’ll see. – Is there something that will be visible to those watching? – It could happen, says Kristoffersen with a mysterious grin. Because it was a very secretive alpine star news met before Sunday’s World Cup opening in Austria. Switched to a star brand Ahead of last season, the Norwegian made a bold switch to skis. Then he left Rossignol after 18 years and signed for the brand new Van Deer ski brand. Created by skiing legend Marcel Hirscher, Van Deer challenged the established elite. The skis caused a stir in the community and received criticism for sourcing labor from Atomic – Hirscher’s old brand. FORMER RIVAL: Marcel Hirscher and Henrik Kristoffersen were great competitors on the trail. Now Hirscher is developing the skis the Norwegian rides. Photo: GEORG HOCHMUTH / AFP Since then, criticism of Van Deer has calmed down. Already at the season opener last year, Kristoffersen drove onto the podium with brand new skis, and since then the Norwegian and the team behind have worked on further improving the equipment. When news asks what’s new with the equipment before this year’s season, Kristoffersen smiles. – If you don’t develop and keep up all the time, both as a performer, but also on the equipment, you will fall behind. You always have to try to improve things, no matter what, believes the 29-year-old, who emphasizes that the most important thing will be the athlete on top of the skis anyway. Asking the reporter to hand in the microphone, Kristoffersen asks news and all alpine enthusiasts to wait patiently until he stands at the start line in Sölden to find out what Van Deer has come up with with the equipment now. The change should be obvious to everyone, he believes. – If you don’t see it on Sunday, you hand in your microphone, he jokes to the reporter. In a short time, Van Deer has developed a world-class team, and Kristoffersen works closely with the apparatus to perfect the equipment. He has never regretted the transition. Timon Haugan also drives Van Deer and is just as secretive as his compatriot, but he can lighten the veil on a few things. – There is quite a big difference between the skis we have now compared to last year. There has really been constant development on Van Deer’s part, and we are constantly trying to find things that can be improved. NORWEGIAN PROFILE: Timon Haugan. Photo: Lars Thomas Nordby / news – What’s the difference? – We have a ski that is more playful and easy to turn, but at the same time lies very well on the snow. It is very good to turn and drive with. Then there are some other things that you will see on Sunday, says Haugan. He also says that there is a new color on the skis. – But isn’t that the secret? – No, he smiles slyly, just like Kristoffersen. He came second in the giant slalom cup last season, only beaten by the superb Marco Odermatt. Sunday’s race, the season opener in giant slalom in Sölden, starts at 10 Sunday morning. It runs without Lucas Braathen, who announced before the weekend that he is quitting:
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