Most recently Niklas Mattsson was on the podium in a World Cup competition over two years ago and his best place in Laax is a 21st place from two seasons ago.
That he would then go and win his first World Cup competition in Laax, few expected - but Mattsson surprised everyone.
- It feels fantastic.
It really feels like revenge because I have never achieved that in this competition, says Niklas Mattsson to SVT Sport.
That the first victory comes this season, however, does not come as a surprise to Mattsson, who has worked even harder this autumn to be as prepared as possible for the season.
- When all the young skiers who come in and challenge the older ones, it only gets harder and harder in the qualifiers.
You have to put in a harder job before the season to be able to compete.
In the past, I have not focused so much on specific tricks, but I have done so before this season.
What tricks have you focused on?
- It is backside 1620 and switch backside 1620. It was primarily intended for Big Air but now I have become so confident in them that I can do them in my sleep, says Niklas Mattsson.
But how come the same hard work has been put in before?
- Yes, that's a good question.
With age, you become more wise, that's right.
I may have lied to myself that you do not need as much repetition of the trick, but you do.
The tricks have always been there but I was only 50 percent sure of them.
But now they are 100 percent.