It is a remarkable time to be involved with the Swiss ski team.

 

Team is the operative word: they are spearheaded by an undisputed heavyweight champion in Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli), who as the current quadruple Crystal Globe winner, could be forgiven for claiming all the limelight for himself.

 

This is not in Odermatt’s nature, however. He is the first person to champion the achievements of his fellow squad members, the first person to show delight when they win – even ahead of him – and is a constant source of lessons and inspiration to the rest.

 

“The young guns are coming, that’s cool to see,” said Odermatt last season – and nobody arrived in more style than 23-year-old Franjo Von Allmen (SUI/Head).

 

Von Allmen had shown a glimpse of his potential in the 2023-24 season, clocking an impressive third place in the Super G at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

 

This term, however, it all came right, and fast. Von Allmen showed that he was the real deal, that the hushed talk of him having the potential of being the ‘new Beat Feuz’ had some merit.

 

He clocked seven FIS World Cup podiums, five in Downhill and two in Super G.

 

Three of them were brilliant wins, pushing the limits at every turn: firstly an iconic Super G win on home snow in Wengen; then a Downhill victory also in Switzerland, at Crans Montana, and finally a barnstorming Downhill triumph at Kvitfjell.

 

It was at the World Championships in Saalbach that he really put his name up in lights, though.

 

To become Downhill World Champion aged 23 is something very special, and a dream week was capped when he also scooped gold in the Team Combined, alongside Loic Meillard (SUI/Rossignol).

 

How has it felt for Von Allmen, this sudden transformation from ‘one to watch’ to top of the pile?

 

“There are so many puzzles that need to fit together,” said Von Allmen. “It went crazy fast. The whole summer is needed for me to put these emotions somewhere.”