Worry about the leg
I believe Kalle will be riding in months time. What worries me is the very fact that there will be 4mm thick titanium plate in his leg and how will that work under pressure in stiff and tight skiing boots. The stress with-in is so high that it is hardly understandable. That is the very reason why this injury even occurred and the vibration hits directly to the tibia.
I cannot deny that I'm worried about Kalle's career. I believe he is worried too. Fortunately his doctor Eero Hyvärinen is positive and doesn't believe in problems. In theory leg should become very good or better, but unfortunately there is very few to none examples where someone has undergone this kind of procedure and recovered fully.
I was diagnosed the other year also for leg fracture and everything should have returned normal in three months yet it took some nine months before things were even close to normal.
I tried to put pressure on Kalle to take risk and race the remaining races no matter what the doctors say. I know this would have been a gamble yet maybe things would have gone as thought. Kalle's coach Christian Leitner was asking opinions from several doctors in central Europe but very few saw this option very feasible. If there would have been even one favoring opinion for racing I believe the risk could have been worth taking. Eventually all doctors were unanimous that there's no chance in racing with his leg as it was.
Alpine skiing is one of those sports where you will get injured at some stage. These incidents don't look for the time nor the place. Skiers are undertaking such stress and their bodies are at the edge. With Kalle there's no specific incident which has caused his injury which makes this bit more unpleasant.
It will be especially important that he will be in top shape from the first race in Solden next season. This season Kalle had the opportunity for victory in every race. Even that he retired in few races he was fit to win, everyone knew that he will win if he can make two good runs to the finish.
How about the positive aspects. Well its good that things deveped to this point now not in september. Timing for the surgery couldn't be much better, if and when things will go well from April to coming October. As the injury is in the worst possible place in leg I wouldn't put my coins to the pot until the first race is over - I really hope his leg will recover well.
4.2.2008 > back to top >>
(MTV3)
Hole in da'bone
Today I will tell you about Kalle Palander's current status and about his leg injury.
Kalle has unfortunately been diagnosed to have a hole in his tibia. Currently there is no decision what will happen with the end of this season, things are open. Kalle has unfortunately been diagnosed to have a hole in his tibia. Currently there is no decision what will happen with the end of this season, things are open. It seems that he will continue to race and go to surgery right after. This injury has been around and causing problems for some year and a half and its been getting worse recently. Kalle new all along that there's a minor fracture in his tibia but yet it was new to him and at the same time very sad that this injury has gotten much worse. Eventhough Kalle and his team has been trying to do everything possible in order to keep him in shape this has now happened. When the racing season is on the athlete cannot really fully recover and relax. One needs to practise and train.
Kalle's retirements in last races don't have anything to do with this. Few people have been thinking that he's been using his injury as an excuse for not making it to finish line. This is not the case. To certain extent it is very good that the injury has been diagnosed bad because it doesn't leave any room for excuses. The injury is a strain fracture. To top athletes this is natural, its never a not going to happen but question of when. Under the current situation I don't think the fracture will take the major role nor do I think it will influence too much to the results of this season. It hurts, that's for sure but Kalle will be riding and racing benumbed so it will not effect.
In saturdays race the winner Denise Karbon is a very good example of injured racer. Her fractured thumb didn't have much effect on her race - its more mental than physical. When you're closing to your limits your body and bones are stressed to their limits too. Your knees, back and legs are in outtermost stress and strain. You will get your share of finger and shoulder injuries when going out of track or when falling. One can do everything possible to prevent this but yet they are in the very nature of the sport - You cannot be affraid of them!
In regards with Kalle and his future after the surgery it will be from few weeks to month to recover. Everything should be normal eventhough they will put some more metal to his leg. Many people host metal with-in and yet they make it work.
28.1.2008 > back to top >>
(MTV3)
One of the most dangerous sports in the world
Today I will be talking about the dangers of downhill skiing which became quite concrete in Kitzbühel when Scott Macartney fell very badly.
In Scott Macartney's fall I wonder how the helmet got off from his head. What went wrong, was it the strap? The race rules and helmet manufacturers together have made helmest compulsory for all skiers also in slalom. When this is the general rule then how is it possible that helmet comes off. I understand if Scott's strap has been loose like in hockey games. Yet for me and many of my colleagues its natural to have it as tight as it can be so that the helmet doesn't fly off unless the strap breaks.
Bode Miller spoke very loudly about the organizers of Kitzbühel right after Macartney's fall. Allthough he opens his mouth whenever there's the opportunity. The place where Macartney fell has had very high speed jump right before the finish line. Today this place should be much easier and better as the slope has been prepared more throughly. If you go back some 10 years the steep right before the jump was frozen by trampping with skis. It wasn't as solid as today. This part of the track has always seen the fastest speeds right before the jump and yet there hasn't been any bad falls before. Anyhow in today's races racers are riding closer to their limits with good equipement and better slope enabling this. Small mistake can lead to fall far easier today than earlier.
Coming back to Macartney's fell. The approach to the jump is from flat like earth falling away from ones feet with speeds over 140 km/h. Ten years ago Patrick Ortlieb measured 156 km/h for the jump and at those days the actual jump was 96 long - very much longer than today when jumps were some 50-60 meters. This jump is not really a very bad one yet demanding full concentration. In my opinion the last jump in Bormio is quite similar. In Hahnenkamm downhill the snow was very fast if compared to the conditions in training runs. Skiers were coming to this part faster and maybe this was one of the reasons for the problems. Whenever you ride 140 you feel kind of shaky and going for stable fly is hard. There was hardly any really good and safe jumps in this place in this particular race. Almost all riders were required to adjust their shape while in air either with hands or feet.
Downhill racing is one the most dangerous sport in the world. My own worst experience was in Val Gardena which almost lead to paralyse. Its undeniable that someone dies every now and then in this discipline as things happen in the very limits of human capabilities. In my opinion this somewhat should raise this sports value even more. If you think about Formula one racing, it the crown sport of all sports where one can hit the wall 300 km/h and yet you have the monocoque protecting you. In downhill racing you don't have any of this, you just have your helmet and the pads and protecting gear under your suit.
One could easily argue then that why not make the sport so safe that nothing would happen. Well going down on these lines would also lead to people losing its interest - its the speed and danger which intriques most of us. Safety nets are good as is the development of personal safety gear thus skis. Having said all of the above it is fortunately rare that some one hits the outer limits of tracks. In the past decade the worst accident happened in december 2001 to Silvano Beltrametti who paralyzed in Val d'Iser WC Downhil when he flew over the safety nets and hit a rock.
Downhill racers are well appreciated amongst riders, especially they are valued if they succeed also in other disciplines than just downhill. Compared to earlier days of alpine skiing it is nowadays easier to be good in many disciplines as the overall riding technique is almost the same from downhill to slalom.
It is understandable that in Finland we don't have downhill racers as there really has not been any kind of will to succeed in this field. In 1999 the downhill racing was taken also off from the Finnish champion ships til they were restarted last year when competitions were taken to Åre in Sweden. This same development has been occuring also in junior racing and instead they have been concentrating to Super-G. In my own understanding all different disciplines are serving all disciplines. One should train and compete in every field and track at least til you're twenty plus years old in order to be capable of deciding what it will be in the finals. We did this with Kalle and look what happened.
Many times today the younger riders think differently.
21.1.2008 > back to top >>
(MTV3)
Palander gets back to podium
This time I will be writing about Kalle Palander's slalom status
Eventhough Kalle Palander has retired in three slalom races this season I cannot see him to have such problems that there is something specific causing this. It happens occasionally that you just go out of course. When you have one you will have another one much easier. Maybe there is some uncertainity in Kalle's skiing after Beaver Creek's GS, I think that started the snowball.
He is little frustrated on going out and retiring from races because in trainings everything has went well. Kalle is in good shape and his overall situation is good. Having said that it would be far worse if the break off's would be due to striving too much but as said this is not the case with Kalle.
He has had similar times before and its been always very difficult to cut this. At the time it required many races to be run calmly to build up his confidence. Today many things are different, Kalle has gained lot more experience and he shouldn't have this kind of problem any more. It could well take just one race and he can win the rest of the seasons races.
Kalle got his skis working which is excellent as in the previous seasons they have been one of his major headaches. Mostly the thank you's go to himself and his team because he has been testing more than ever. Kalle is very happy with his current equipement. In Wengen he showed excellent performance but he made again few small mistakes. These very small mistakes are the very reason for going out. Again, I believe he will be back and will not start selling his gear even that he said so.
Many of the riders were thinking that Fischer went to wrong direction and the skis were tested in too little extent on icy conditions. Skis were okay in almost any surface but in extremely icy slopes they didn't offer enough grip. Also the skis had a bit too much stiffness and cut. Fortunately development team has put enough effor to turn this development direction and things are now evolving to right direction, skis are beginning to work very well on any surface. Wengen also supported this view.
In the course of couple last seasons I have thought that Kalle has been stronger in giant slalom than in regular but this season has put his slalom to a new level. With this progression his slalom has become as good or even better than his giant slalom. Usually Kalle has been strong in both disciplines, main difference has been the functionality of his equipement from toe to top.
Kitzbühel and Schladming slaloms are ahead. These are the most appreciated podiums of the season. My guess is that Kalle will take victories in both races like he did in 2003 when he also took his first ever victories in Wold Cup in these same races. Kalle's will and condition is so strong that I think he now has everything what it takes to win.
Kitzbühel slaloms value is based on its history and downhill race which originates back to the times of Toni Sailer. In those days almost all Austrian skiers represented Kitzbühel's own skiing team. They were in their own league and won every race. From those days on Kitzbühel has became one of a kind race, a real classic. The race is a real festival nowadays, like the workers day in Finland. Its one of the biggest venues in Alpine Europe.
For Kalle Kitzbühel is a very special and important race. His coach Christian Leitner was born there. Schladming's evening slalom became much later the after burner of Kitzbühel. Schladming is also very big venue as there will be some 50.000 spectators cheering to their favorites, it is also very magnificent race.
15.1.2008 > back to top >>
(MTV3)
The future of finnish alpine skiing
This time my article is about the future of finnish alpine skiing.
The future of finnish alpine skiing looks very promising although the edge is quite narrow. Sanni Leinonen and Marcus Sandell have made it to the World Cup and there are some fresh faces and talens like Mikael Svensk and Johanna Tikkanen arising behind.
Sandell is the hottest name on the plate. He's speed is already good eventhough he hasn't yet been able to show his best on track. My guess is that next season in Alta Badia GS Marcus will make it to the podium. I believe that he could have already made it this year without the mistake. He needs more experience to learn his limits. This season has somewhat been carefull riding, which is in reference to his experience quite sensible. Usually the last parts of runs have been better for him.
To get to the top requires extreme amount of talent, but to make it to the finish line it's also about your mindest too. You need to be capable of bringing out your best in races. Very few of the actually good alpine skiers have made there as they've lacked the right attitude, mindset and proffessionalism in order to reach to the highest peak.
If we look to the finnish national skiing team, there has been a number of guys who've been faster than Kalle Palander in training sessions, but they've never really made it to the races. In race you need to give yor 110 and more. Charge youreself, prepare yourself and fight from every hundreds of a second.
In order for young skiers to succeed in future they need to start early. At latest one needs to start really pushing and training around the early years of high school. And last not least one of those great limitations is money. It takes some 20k€ annually to get the proper equipement and train with the right people under right circumstances. How about the right age for success? Well if we consider in terms of physichs one could reach his peak around twenties although the experience will show up around 25-30 years. Alpine skiing requires extensive amount of experience both in runs but also for the slopes. I believe it requires minimum five seasons of touring around Eurocup and WC in order to reach and stay at the top.
Our current World Cup is very good for younger skiers, mainly because the second run is run with turned order. Down the line, it only requires you to make it to the top 30 to get to the second round. Then you have a clean track and with good racing you can make it very much higher in the results.
8.1.2008 > back to top >>
(MTV3)
Bode Miller
In this article I will write about those colorful personalities in the alpine circuit. Bode Miller is one of those stars who makes the crowd wow.
Bode Miller did a great job by winning the downhill race in Bormio's very difficult and technically demanding slope. He skied in good control, yet at the very limits. He got his skis going right from the first turn and the timing of pressure in turns was right on spot. I guess the race went as he planned. At this time I wouldn't put Miller on the highest podium for overall. Although having said that he has his flashes in these faster disciplines thus in giant slalom.
Bode is a marvelous personality with big P. Like Kalle Palander he's capable of giving critics and comments to authorities and in the fields of alpine skiing in general. Even that occasionally we hear comments about doping and similar, he has still been able to gain the ground so that every journalist is listening when he is speaking. Also people like to read, as much as he himself, the stories he makes. Yet the authorities are tightening the leech.
Bode has he's own training team. As far as I know he has been very happy with the decission to leave from the US team. In my opinion the capability for taking such risks is admirable. This indicates that the national team is not the only choice one has to go forward. Even our own national team has been talking to Kalle with similar kind of proposal that he should seriously consider to establish his own team. The reasoning behind for this kind of discussions has been the comments from few EuroCup riders who think that the national team is too much 'Kalle centric'. Well no one can't really argue about this but Kalle's results are in its own scale.
To continue with these same lines, it true that the coaching and training the finnish skiing association is offering may not be best for a single athlete, because they need to consider the team as whole. If you consider for example Alberto Tomba he trained most of his career alone.
Whilst operating your own team, you have your own financials thus sponsors. These are really big and demanding things to handle by oneself. In my opinion there's few to none reasons for any finnish skier to go on by themselves. Considering those younger riders in the team I believe it is just good that things happen around Kalle. I trained with Kalle for many years and didn't see any kind of problem with this. And again it is very different situation if the association starts braking, which actually has already happened when last summers snow trainings were canceled. This should not be happening and it is really not good for the mood.
Closing back to the start - the circuit has many very colorful personalities: Tomba, Miller, Hermann Maier, Kalle, Marc Girardelli and the list could go on and on. As we're not talking here about team sports but the opposite must every athlete think about his and her's best and act accordingly. You must put everything to the table and even sometimes be over selfish. I hope that one day Marcus Sandell will take the 'Tomba-style' attitude, rather be a bit difficult than too easy to interview, nor being the nicest athlete for the national team and association. This would be in my opinion very nourshing ground for future success.
31.12.2007 > back to top >>
(MTV3)
Palander raises his stakes
In this first story I will take more insight into reasons why and how Kalle Palander was able to win in Alta Badia Giant Slalom for the third time.
Alta Badia used to be my favorite race, I took my first points there, I was leading there once and I was third at the podium. Today this 'responsibility' lies upon Kalle who has been able to continue the track I started. I am really not sure why this has happened, maybe finnish head coach Christian Leitner just knows how to train for these kind of conditions and slope. From the early 1990's finns have been able to succeed in tough conditions and races.
This year too the race was tough, challenging and icy. Skiis didn't have grip and surprisingly many ended out of course, especially in first run. Without any questions Kalle was the expert in this race.
Giant slalom in Alta Badia is one of the main events in South Tirol area like Madonna's slalom at the Italian Alps. Alta Badia is commonly considered to be the main race of the season.
After the race Kalle commented that "all races should be run in similar kind of challenging conditions". It is true that there is no reason to have any easy races in the World Cup. If there would be any, these should be moved for good to other locations.
Preparations to Alta Badia are usually done at St. Jakob's where it was done this year too. The village is peacefull and kind of empty. Slopes and snow is quite similar to the conditions at Alta Badia. St. Jakob's is a good place to re-charge your batteries for the coming race either with physical or mental training.
Kalle never raced Alta Badia with Alberto Tomba but he may well beat Tomba's record of four wins there. I believe that Kalle is able to win at least twice in Alta Badia. I also belive that this is in his hopes too. On the other hand Kalle won two times in a row at Kitzbühel - but he didn't won the third time and since its not been very good to him there.
Having said that I must continue that no, I do not believe that Kalle will make it to be a legend like Tomba, even at Alta Badia never the less how many races he will win there. Unless he will continue his career for seven plus years to the next Olympic's. Although that is certainly possible.
This year Kalle has again been able to raise his level from the previous seasons. One reason for this development has been another finnish World Cup racer Marcus Sandell who's now in such a good shape that he can bit the hell out of Kalle in their training sessions. This has truly given more momentum to Kalle's own training. In the previous seasons Kalle has quite made it at the last legs of his runs comparing to this year when the last parts have been his best. It seems that today he's able to hold the package in form right to the finnish. Tomba said me once that in Alta Badia the race starts after last time has been clocked before finish. That is the very time when you need to show off what you're made off. Kalle has been and is very fast in the last poles. And again, maybe his sponsor Hica is the enabler for the finnish because down the line I don't think Kalle has been training any better than in the previous years.
Kalle is one of favourites for the Giant Slalom Cup. In my opinion he is not the number one but Benjamin Raich. In coming races Kalle has won in Adelboden. Howerver Raich and US rider Ted Ligety are very hard to beat there so it will not be easy for Kalle to get onto podium. Kranjska Gora has always been very difficult for Kalle but giving it the second thought there's really no reason what so ever why he wouldn't be able to win there.
Raich skied well in Alta Badia and he could have well won the race. Kalleexceeded his level and made it this time. It is unrealistic to expect this to happen in all races, for sure both Kalle and Raich too need to give it all in the future too.
17.12.2007 > back to top >>
(MTV3)
Previous articles >>>
Previously @ samiuotila.com >>> |
