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www.worldskinews.com/Beaver
Creek (USA) 04.12.2004
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Men
Giant Slalom - Race interview
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[ Report
] [ Results
] [ GS
Standings ] [ Overall
Standings ]
[ Lasse
Kjus had two solid runs ] |
Lasse Kjus had two solid runs.
“I think that the racing conditions were quite perfect for me today with this very dry, compact and sometimes icy snow covering this challenging slope. You needed to ski it with determination yet also with smoothness and precision.”
“My Dynastar skis perfectly handled the situation. They are awesome. I achieved a two solid runs and I really enjoyed my rides today.”
“The second run was technically quite demanding with some very tricky turns which I negotiated almost perfectly. My 5th best time this morning gave me much confidence and I was ready to try something special this afternoon.”
“I was aiming for a good result - as a spot on the podium. Things turned out better than expected at the end. I have been so often disappointed in past giant slalom races that I'm really elate this time! It's quite crazy!”
« It's my first win in giant slalom since the 1999 World Championships and the first on the World Cup tour since Kranjska Gora, in December 1995! That's along time ago. It's a great victory because it's quite tough to beat all the specialists in this event nowadays. In fact, I wore bib 16 today and Hermann Maier number 17!”
“It's quite an amazing hat-trick I achieved today after having won a Super-G a year ago in Val Gardena and a downhill in Kitzbühel last January. I don't think there are many other skiers who won giant slalom races at my age -maybe Michael von Grünigen!”
More rest for Lasse before Val d'Isère
One of the main contenders in last winter's fight for the Overall World Cup crown before injuring himself at a knee in Kitzbühel - which forced him to leave the circuit in the middle of the season to undergo surgery - Lasse will focus on the World Championships in Bormio this winter and some “Classics”. He aims to finally win gold in downhill after having finished so often 2nd in Olympics or World Championships.
He already excelled on the treacherous Bormio courses in past years, winning that race in 1995 and finishing it twice 3rd. That's why he wants to get some time off this week. “I fly now home to rest and relax, and get back in shape in time for the giant slalom in Val d'Isère,” he said. “Then we will see how I feel and which races I'll enter!”
Interestingly enough, his buddy Kjetil Aamodt, who barely missed the cut for the second run, predicted that Lasse will find back his momentum this season. “He has a cold, but he will soon recover and I bet he will win some medals in February,” Kjetil told the press earlier this week.
Patrick Lang
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http://www.vaildaily.com
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