She is known not to be able to rest, even after the season. And Ester Ledecká confirmed it again. The Czech snowboarder and skier is getting ready for a prestigious windsurfing race. And just like on snowy slopes, it doesn’t let anything out on the water.
Have you managed to rest after the challenging Olympic season?
I was in London for a while, where I rested. Then we had material testing with the boys. I didn’t hang around at all, I also did something fit, but I had a slightly looser regime.
Do you already have an idea of how to handle summer?
We have a lot of test camps ahead of us, and I got an invitation to Monaco for the F1 Grand Prix. They always invite only athletes from the Olympics. He will arrange a special plane for us, so it will be a nice experience.
Do you have a pilot to support there?
Probably Verstappen, Red Bull, it may be a necessity to support them. I watch the series from behind the scenes on Netflix and I find it amazing. It’s super filmed. It occurs to me that their world is very similar to ours. They risk their lives a lot more than we do, but a lot depends on their technique. I wonder what it will be like live, I’ve never been to a race. But it won’t be the only premiere that awaits me.
Which will be the next one?
Another sponsor invites me to a famous windsurfing race in the bay of Le Défi in France. I’ve been invited in the past, now they want to give me some sails. I’m looking forward. I have been sailing for five years, but I have only completed the race twice among the instructors in Lefkada. I also often overtake with my dad, he is a tough opponent. So I hope I can go to France. I’ll go for blood and I’ll either win or die.
So you add a third sport. Will you really be so competitive in it too?
I still race. Even if it’s not the season. About who runs up the hill first, who cooks faster, who gets there by car sooner.
In addition, you study at the University of Finance and Administration, do you pass all the exams?
I should finish the last year of my master’s degree in sports marketing. So I should be waiting for the stateswoman and the defense of the work on the topic of “branding athletes”. I’d like to dig it up this year. I have to say that it’s nice how the study blends with my work, I really enjoy it.
You brought more gold from the Olympic Games, and you were third overall in the downhill season. Have you managed to recap the past winter in your head?
It is a fact that during the season it is difficult to evaluate and rejoice in the achievements, because one is running and looking only at the race that is ahead of us. Now I had time to ride the season again and I must say that I am very proud of my team for the work. They were all fantastic.
Most of all, you defended Olympic gold, there aren’t many athletes who can say that…
For a lot of people, it probably can’t be more successful, I took it a little differently. As a confirmation that even after those four years I am in the top of snowboarding, even though I also do another sport and I think that I am also improving in it. So I thought to sum it up, I’m pretty good.
Will you continue with the same implementation team? Information leaked that physiotherapist Michal Lešák will probably end up.
Michal put on social networks that he thanks for this season and it probably sounded like it was over. Rather, we are agreeing on a regime under which it could continue. It’s all a matter of negotiation. It is possible that he will be with me for most of the season, maybe I will take another physiotherapist with me, we will see. Physio is the busiest member of the team because he is still with me on both snowboards and skis. So maybe he’ll have a partner, but I’d like me to keep Michal at least part-time.
Do you have a plan for what you will be working on the most for the upcoming season?
I want to be a little better again than I have been so far. I did it now. There’s a lot of it. For example, Red Bull provides me with test pistons to learn how to jump. I have reserves there and I need to jump into the forota for next season.
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