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Dominik Paris was seriously injured in top form in January in Kitzbühel – his best season so far was premature. Now he explains why the timing of the injury fits into the picture.
After his double victory in Bormio at the end of December, Dominik Paris is still in dazzling shape after the turn of the year and only has to surrender to the long-time rival Beat Feuz in Wengen. Then comes the fateful fall in training for the downhill from Kitzbühel, which the South Tyrolean has won three times in the past.
“It was a typical indoor ski mistake”, Paris describes in an interview with “SRF” the incident. «I slid towards the net and wanted to brake, then the ski bit. I stopped, the failed man gave in – that was the cruciate ligament at that moment. »
Paris immediately registers that something has happened in his right knee. But what? «I did another lap after that, my knee was still stable. Then I wasn’t really worried and hoped it was just a blow. During the examination in Kitzbühel it came out that the cruciate ligament was torn. » The season is over.
The time fits into the picture
Paris is not surprised that such a serious injury slows him down in his best career phase to date. “Most of the time, stupid mistakes happen when you’re in a really good mood. You don’t become negligent, but you are a little less focused. »
At the moment the 30-year-old is working on his comeback in South Tyrol, at home in Ulten. He is not greatly restricted by the curfew imposed in Italy due to the corona pandemic. He has the necessary equipment at home in a training room and the path to physiotherapy is not far: “I’m lucky that my brother-in-law is my physio – that’s why he’s in the same house.” So every driver has his own little advantage – including his competitor Feuz. “Beat has his girlfriend as a physio,” adds Paris, laughing.
«Feuz and I are very good colleagues»
When asked about his relationship with the Swiss, the South Tyrolean is enthusiastic. «We are very good colleagues. Race is race, there it is the competition. But it’s also great. We both have a good character and we fit together very well. »
The two downhill dominators tick similarly. «You can tell that we both come from small, isolated valleys where everyone knows everyone. We are nature boys. We have met our families a few times. Both friends also get along very well. »
Paris hopes to return for the Lake Louise departure early next season. Provided the season can start as planned – but the Super G World Champion of 2019 is in good spirits in this regard: «I think everyone has now understood it. In the beginning it was taken a little too loosely. Now everyone has understood what to do: stay at home. »
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