Henrik Kristoffersen starts the World Cup season with the giant slalom in Sölden on Sunday, after three weeks in Chile and two weeks in Argentina.
The 32-year-old said being away from home is harder now that his three-year-old son Emil understands more. "It's heavier now than when he was smaller. It is," Kristoffersen told NRK.
He said the four days at home between Chile and Argentina went very well, but that Emil thought his father should stay home a little longer afterwards. "I say that dad has to travel away, and we've talked about that, then I say that dad always comes home again," he said.
The family is based in Salzburg in Austria, a few hours' drive from Sölden. His wife Tonje gave birth to daughter Linnea this summer, and after the birth Tonje had a blood clot and spent several days in hospital.
Tonje and the children will not be at the race this time. "Linnea isn't used to being at that altitude. There will be more opportunities during the winter," Kristoffersen said.
The family's start as four was demanding. Kristoffersen says he is used to not seeing his family, and that travelling is something they prepared for long before they had children. "There are many who have it much worse than we do, so I think it will be fine," he said.
Kristoffersen was third in Sölden in 2022, second in 2024 and seventh last year. In 2024 Alexander Steen Olsen, Kristoffersen and Atle Lie McGrath made it an all-Norwegian podium.
He debuted in the World Cup in March 2012 at the age of 17 and has 34 wins and 102 podiums. Only Aksel Lund Svindal has won more World Cup races among Norwegian alpine skiers, with 36.
Emil was present when his father took Olympic bronze in the slalom in Bormio in February, Kristoffersen's third Olympic medal. Earlier in October the family held a christening for Linnea. "It went very well! It was a fine day with lots of family and friends. She didn't cry too much in church, so that went very well too. It was lovely," Kristoffersen said.
Based on reporting by NRK.