EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW FROM LENZERHEIDE
Interview published in German. Translation by Claudia.
Your words on the Super-G race? Are you happy with your performance? Yes, I'm very satisfied with the race. The slope was in very good condition. It's slowly getting better. I've come closer since Garmisch and I'm happy it paid off here with a Top10-ranking. I'm just happy it's going well with the skiing again. But still, it bugs me the difference to the podium was only 5 hundreths of a second.
You got injured last year and just came back this season. How do you think about your efforts? Comeback season was a hard one for me. I've had some good results at the beginning of it, but it was like a rollercoaster for me. Ups and downs. But I felt solid and strong at the moment and I've ended this season on a high level, so now I want to keep this form over summer time.
What can we expect from you concerning the Olympics 2006 in Sestrieres? It's probably gonna be very hard for me since I couldn't start at the World Cup Finals last year [they took place on the Olmypic slopes] due to my injury. Still, my biggets goal is to ski into the Top 3, and I'll give my best for that.
You're leading the young Canadian team. Looking at the Olympics 2010 in Vancouver, what can we expect from you? It's clear that that's the main goal for us. We have a really good and young team, fantastic young skiers at age 21. Those are gaining confidence and experience more and more. The team spirit's great and we're working for the 2010 Olympics. My personal wish would be a gold medal there of course. Should this come true, it would be the peak of my career.
The season's almost over. What's your personal feedback? I am very happy about my good performances in my comeback season, after this injury. I've got an engine for the summer training with that.
Are you planning to race Giant Slaloms as well next season? Yes, I've done GS trainings this year already. I'd like to add some points to my overall ranking, besides gaining good results in this discipline as well.
What's your goals for the 2005/06 season and the future? My goal for the next season is to become better and better. My biggest goal is to break into the Top 10 of the world and stay in good condition for the Olympic Games.
What's your plans for the summer holidays? I'm going to Mexico with my girfriend in May. I'll do light training like biking, playing basketball. Just have fun and hang out with my friends.
How are you preparing for the upcoming 2005/06 season? We'll come to Europe for a training camp in April. Then it's holidays to relax in May. Starting in June, I'll do dryland training: cycling, condition, muscle training, daily from about 9 to 17 o'clock. We'll start with the on snow training in July, probably in South America.
Are you glad the season's finally over? Yes, finally! After such a long time I'm really looking forward to seeing my family, girlfriend and friends. The good thing is I'm coming home with a bunch of good results in my backpack.
Thanks for the great interview.