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Henrik Kristoffersen is among the skiers with the most successes in alpine disciplines in recent years. The Norwegian has a total of 84 World Cup podiums, four small crystal globes (three in slalom and one in giant slalom) and has consistently finished in the top 3 overall in seven of the last eight seasons, twice coming second. In his career, he also has a silver medal in the giant slalom from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, as well as a bronze medal from the Sochi Olympics. Kristoffersen is also a two-time world champion. The 29-year-old skier spoke to “Dnevnik” before the start of the World Cup in Bansko at the weekend.
At the age of 17, you won a European Cup race in Pamporovo in 2012. Were you surprised when you did it then?
– No, I don’t think so, maybe a little. I won two races in the Topolino Cup before that. I won a lot of competitions in juniors, I was the best among those born in 1994. We participated in starts from the FIS calendar. I am the youngest skier to win a men’s European Cup race. Certainly no one expected it, myself included, but that was the point. Things seemed to change from there.
How difficult is the road from the European Cup in Pamporovo to the first victory in the World Cup Night Slalom in Schladming in 2014?
– It’s not that hard. It’s always hard when you have to work for it. But the year following Pamporovo was probably physically the hardest I’ve had, because I was riding in the World Cup and the European Cup at the same time. I made Top 30 in slalom, scored points in giant slalom at the World Cup. And the season following that I was third in Levy, third in Adelboden, second in Kitzbühel and won in Schladming. So I did some steps very quickly. I was the youngest skier to win the World Cup since Piero Gross. More than 30 years had passed since such a young skier had won a race. It was a big thing to win in Schladming ahead of Marcel Hirscher and Felix Neureuter.
Expectations probably rose following that. At the Olympic Games in Sochi, you won a bronze medal. Was there disappointment in your home country that it was “only” a bronze medal?
– No, it was something big. I was the youngest male skier in history to win an Olympic medal. This is something big. I was a bit disappointed following the first race because I was quite behind, but in the second race I caught up and took an Olympic bronze medal at only 19 years old. It was something really big, I was very happy.
© Reuters
There are 11 slaloms on the World Cup calendar and more and more technical events are coming.
– In my opinion, the biggest difference between the disciplines is between slalom and giant slalom. In terms of how difficult it is to be involved in two different disciplines. In my opinion, slalom and giant slalom are the hardest.
You participate in both.
– Yes, but in my opinion these are the two most difficult because there are many specialists in slalom and many specialists in giant slalom. If you look at super G and downhill, anyone who rides in one also rides in the other. If you look at the top 30 in speed events, there are a lot more people there than in giant slalom and slalom. So I think it’s hardest in giant slalom and in slalom. You see there are very fast skiers in both speed and giant slalom at the moment – Marco Odermat for example. So, yes, there are more slaloms now, but there are more starts in the other disciplines as well.
Norway has a rich history of champions in speed disciplines. Are you tempted to try super G?
– No. I’ve ridden there, I have World Cup points in super G, but right now it doesn’t make sense for me to compete there.
Even from the perspective of the Great Crystal Globe?
– No, because what would it matter if I finished 20th or 15th in super G? 16 points are awarded for 15th place. The World Cup is won by winning races and I can’t win a race in Super G. I have to focus on the things I can win.
You raced with Marcel Hirscher, and now can you say you are partners in the production of the skis you ride (Hirscher founded the Van Deer brand – author’s note)?
– Yes, probably.
What is your contribution to this product? Two years ago there were pictures of you in the factory with Hirscher.
– We make a lot of changes during the seasons, especially now when everything is still new. We have new shoes that are brand new. I received them 10 days ago, we are doing tests because now we can test them on winter snow and not on a glacier in summer because the conditions are completely different. I have a big contribution in skis, in shoes.
© Yordan Mihailov, Reuters
How do you recharge your batteries in the summer? What do you miss most regarding the season?
– I don’t think I’m missing anything. During the season there is always tension, anticipation for the next race, the desire to do better. The big difference in the summer is that there isn’t that thought of a new race coming up and what you have to do. You manage to switch off, it’s much easier on the head.
When you finish somewhere between 15th and 20th in the first heat of a major race, what does it take to do well in the second heat and move up? Is it mainly a mental issue?
– Certainly, but technical abilities are also important. In the second race, sometimes due to the conditions, it becomes more difficult, because tracks remain on the track. So technical ability is also needed.
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