Lindsey Vonn Enlists Ski Legend Aksel Lund Svindal for Olympic Season Push

Lindsey Vonn is making a historic run for the upcoming Olympic season, and a bold new chapter is about to unfold. Following her sensational comeback, the American ski icon will be joined by none other than fellow HEAD legend Aksel Lund Svindal. The two titans of alpine skiing are teaming up as Vonn sets her sights on Milan-Cortina. Their journey begins at a training camp in Chile later this summer, marking the exciting beginning of their collaboration.

"Bringing Aksel onto my team for this season feels like a natural and incredibly exciting step. We've shared so much history on the mountain, from training to winning World Cup titles, and there's a deep level of trust and respect that's developed over the years. His knowledge of the sport, especially when it comes to equipment and race strategy, is unparalleled, and I've always valued his insights. To have him officially on my team as we push for the Cortina Games is a huge boost. This comeback is about pushing boundaries and proving what's possible, and I believe Aksel will help give me the extra edge I will need on this ambitious journey. I am grateful to have him on my team and I couldn't ask for a better partner." said Lindsey Vonn.

Long-standing shared history with HEAD

Lindsey Vonn and Aksel Lund Svindal, both brand ambassadors for Head, retired from ski racing at 2019 World Championships after incredibly successful careers, and a long history and friendship. They've remained closely connected to the sport, and their mutual respect is evident in their new partnership. Svindal, known for his deep understanding of equipment, even contributes to developing new ski technology at HEAD, including the Energy Management Circuit (EMC) for race skis.

'Building mutual trust and respect.'

“The right setup of skis, boots, and bindings is crucial for the confidence and speed needed to win,” says Aksel Lund Svindal. “Through the years of training and racing together, Lindsey and I built a lot of trust and respect, so I felt I could make an impact quickly. The same goes for HEAD. We both raced for HEAD, and I still have a very close relationship with the company.”

‘Her determination and attitude are impressive.’

"I love skiing and I've stayed in contact with the sport after I retired. I was a bit surprised when Lindsey called me, but mostly honored. She is one of the absolutely greatest skiers of all time and I'm very impressed by her determination in this comeback. She knows me quite well, so she wouldn't have asked unless she really thought I could contribute. I can't wait to see what's possible in the next few months. I've already started the work together with her coaches and the HEAD racing team. I'm excited to get back into racing and working with people that I've missed these last few years." said Aksel Lund Svindal.

A brilliant comeback, with a podium finish as the highlight!

Lindsey Vonn capped her spectacular comeback in the last World Cup season with a second-place finish in the Super-G at the season finale in Sun Valley. The American secured her 138th podium finish — her first since her comeback, and her first in 2,565 days, over 7 years later. The 40-year-old last stood on a World Cup podium on 15 March 2018, when she came third in the World Championship Super-G in Åre, Sweden. Long before her retirement in 2019, Vonn regularly sought advice from Aksel Lund Svindal regarding equipment and race tactics. She often trained with Svindal, Jansrud, and the entire Norwegian team. Vonn has also been competing on men’s skis since 2008, giving a direct comparison to the equipment Svindal was skiing on. In her 2024/25 comeback season, Svindal was already helping Vonn remotely.

Lindsey Vonn – four big and 16 small Crystal Globes

Few athletes in ski racing can boast a longer list of achievements. She won 3 Olympic medals, 8 World Championship medals, four overall World Cup titles and 16 discipline titles, the most of any ski racer in history. She has claimed World Cup victories in every discipline, standing on the top of a World Cup podium 82 times. Another remarkable statistic is that she won an incredible 18 World Cup races in her 'living room' of Lake Louise. Off the slopes, she is also socially committed. The Lindsey Vonn Foundation provides essential enrichment and sports-based scholarships and empowerment programs to girls from underserved communities across the country. She has also become an active investor and in particular in women’s sports, including joining the ownership group of both the Utah Royals FC and Angel City FC, both NWSL teams, amongst many others.

Aksel Lund Svindal – Olympic Champion, World Champion, Overall World Cup Winner

For many years, success in ski racing was synonymous with one name: Aksel Lund Svindal. The Norwegian has won almost every major title in alpine ski racing. He has won 4 Olympic medals, is a five-time World Champion and two-time Overall World Cup winner. He also claimed nine discipline titles and 36 World Cup victories. After a severe knee injury and several comebacks, Svindal bid farewell to ski racing in true champion style by winning silver in the downhill at his final race – the 2019 World Championships. Even in retirement, sport continues to play a major role in his life. He loves free riding, water sports, motocross and music. He has also been actively involved in numerous start-up ventures in recent years.