Anja Paerson wins 2nd Overall World Cup title

After a series of triumphs on the men's tour thanks to Hermann Maier and Stephan Eberharter, Carrera is also enjoying a great success this year on the women's World Cup circuit. Six years after Austria's Alexandra Meissnitzer, Anja Paerson became the latest Carrera champion to clinch the Overall World Cup.

The Swede captured the 2005 Overall Cup by only three points after a dramatic and uncertain giant slalom race in which she came in 17th and her main rival Janica Kostelic 8th,! The situation remained totally opened until the arrival of the last skier, Spain's Maria Jose Rienda-Contreras, who clocked the best total time. Janica and Anja were standings together near the exit gate waiting the issue of this last and crucial competition of the season. None of them was sure to clinch the Cup until the very end of that final race.

“To fight the whole season and to have it go to the last racer of the last race is just crazy,” Anja said. “I was really nervous today and couldn't ski the way I wanted. I was upset in the first run because I was the first to start but the men's awards were still going on. I had a decent run. In the afternoon, it was ok at the beginning but I lost much time at the end and I was shocked to see that I only clocked the 13th best time at that moment. I knew it would be quite tough remaining among the top-15 and score some points. So I was pretty mad as I left the finish area. I stood next to Janica and we waited together the end of the event.”

“We were talking about the Cup and we speculate what she or I needed to be to clinch the big Globe,” said Paerson at the press conference. “Janica knew it exactly, and for a while she was the Overall champion because she was 6th and finally 7th before the start of the last racer,” Anja Paerson recalled. “And then Maria Jose came in with the best time and suddenly it was over, I won it, it's totally crazy. But I would have proud to be 2nd behind Janica who is such a big champion. She is a great fighter!”

Great rivals on the terrain

Both champions warmly encouraged each other at the start before fighting their way down the course. “We are great rivals as soon as the clock begins to tick, but beside this, we are going along well, there is no need to hate each other,” explained Anja after the awards. “I think we produce great excitement and a thrilling show this winter, which is good for the sport. We push each other to approach our limits in each competition.”

“While we spoke together today, we both agreed that each of us had a great season and that whoever wins the Cup, the other would be pleased the same to be 2nd. It has been an awesome season for me with great satisfactions at the Worlds and in the speed events too. To win in all four specialties means a lot to me, it's a huge accomplishment. It has always been a dream of mine to win a downhill and I was ready to work hard to reach this goal.”

“It's difficult to compare my two Overall victories. Last winter, I wanted to win each slalom and giant slalom and it was great to win the Cup with 11 wins and a big lead at the end. This season, I struggled in the technical events because I was competing all the time and I could not focus as much on the tech events as before. But I kept on fighting, I never gave-up so I was also rewarded for my great will and my determination.”

“People can't imagine how drained we are now, how much energy we need to train and to race. I don't feel my legs anymore, my batteries are empty. I think my entire body will be painful in the coming days when I'll be resting in Monte-Carlo.”

“I have learned a lot during this season and I'll carry this experience into the next winter which is very important because of the Olympics in Turin. An Olympic gold medal is the last triumph which is missing in my list of successes. It's definitely a major goal for me and I'll plan my season to win at least one. It's possible that I skip some races if I need to in case I feel tired or in trouble. A third Overall World Cup title will not be my priority even though I recognize that the Overall Cup is the greatest accomplishment in a skier's career. Janica achieved an amazing comeback this winter, and I'm sure she will be up there again next season.”

After a one-week-break at the Côte d'Azur, Anja will travel to Scandinavia for more action at the Swedish Nationals and other local competitions. On April 23rd another celebration is planned in her hometown Taernaby two days before her 24th birthday.

PL