Sweden's greatest slalom talent nods the national team: "My way forward"

Last year's season was the best for Fabian Ax Swartz, Sweden's biggest slalom talent on the men's side. In his first Olympics, he took 14th place in slalom and 22nd place in giant slalom. In the World Cup, he struck with the finest results of his career, despite a shaky start.

- In slalom, I crossed every competition there at the beginning. It was a very tough start to the season. Boundaries can't really be controlled, when it happens it's over in a few milliseconds.

However, he overcame the problem. The further into the season, the more points Ax Swartz collected. After, among other things, touching his personal best as eleventh in the World Cup, the final position in the Slalom Cup was 30th place.

Now he is betting on a new personal record.

- I want to continue on exactly the same track as I did last year and after the boost I got during the season, he says ahead of the 2026-2027 season.

Last season, Ax Swartz trained on his own, outside of the Swedish alpine national team, which is having a tough time financially. At the time, he was still technically part of the national team. He is no longer.

Instead of training with the national team, Ax Swartz has his own set-up via sponsors. With a base in Salzburg, he is close to both training and competitions as well as his ski brand where he can test materials. Last year it must have paid off, he believes.

- Last year we found a solution that I, the confederation and the SOK (Swedish Olympic Committee) were happy with, and after the season that was and my results, it was something I wanted to continue with. But before this season we suddenly found no solution, he says.

Now he has instead placed himself completely outside the national team.

- Last year, Fabian had the opportunity to train with us, but he chose not to come. This year he turned down his national team place. The difference is that he has taken a bigger stance himself, says national team coach Fredrik Sars.

The goal for the season is to break into the top 15 in slalom and in giant slalom, the 22-year-old wants to finish between 20th and 25th place.

Achieving these results is, according to Ax Swartz, therefore easier when he is outside the national team and is allowed to train under his own authority.

- I have the backing I feel comfortable with and believe is my way forward.

Freedom, however, is not free.

- The disadvantage of not being part of the national team is above all the economy. I need to pay for 90 percent of the season privately, through sponsors who finance it. Then it is also a minus to not be with the other Swedish riders.

Ahead of the world cup premiere in the giant slalom the other week, Ax Swartz was hopeful, but the start did not go as planned and he did not qualify for the second run.

This weekend awaits the world cup premiere in slalom in Levi, Finland.

Fredrik Sars believes that the national team has been accommodating about the decision, even though they would have preferred to have the talent with them in training.

- Both the management, the coaches and the other riders had wished that Fabian had wanted to be with us. The Swedish model, which has proven successful over a long period of time, is based on gathering the best riders to let them develop, he says.