BRATISLAVA. Replacing a coach after the biggest success of his career, gaining a large crystal globe, was a risky but successful step. Petra Vlhová, under the guidance of Mauro Pini, skied more relaxed and was often seen with a smile on her face.
With the new coach, they achieved the goal they set before the season and won the Olympic gold medal in slalom.
“I am really happy with him. I couldn’t do better. He is an amazing person and coach, “Slovak said over the weekend during the medal celebrations on the square in Liptovský Mikuláš.
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No wonder cooperation with Switzerland will continue. “We have agreed to sign a contract for the next two seasons. Maybe even then, but it will be solved gradually, “said the father of the skier Igor Vlha.
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How is the 26-year-old Liptáček different from other girls on the slope? “She’s an Olympic champion,” shouted Mauro Pini. “I often believe in an athlete more than an athlete believes in himself,” he continued.
We do everything for Petra
The Vlha team will go through several changes. After almost three years, the service manager and assistant head coach Matteo Baldissarutti, who and his wife Cristina are waiting to join the family, are finished.
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The 47-year-old Italian joined the ski after the 2019 Aare World Championships, where Vlhová won gold in a giant slalom. Baldissarutti was brought in by his compatriot and former coach Livio Magoni. After the change of coach, he received an offer for further cooperation.
Mauro Pini revealed that he will not stay with this one change: “I have to thank the members of the team who are leaving – service workers Matteo Baldissarutti, Bruno Grandi and physiotherapist Ivan Gašpárek,” said the Swiss.
Bruno Grandi prepared the skis for one season. He replaced Pierluigi Parravicini last year, who left with Magoni. They got in touch with Italian from Rossignol.
At that time, he ended his collaboration with Norwegian skier Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen and was looking for a new job. Grandi was in charge of skiing in a huge slalom and sliding discipline.
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“It’s a similar position to coach. It has to fit in perfectly, it’s not just about preparing your skis. It’s a life where we are more than 200 days a year together. The character decides in a small group, “Pini described the position of service technician.
The Swiss outlined that only one person could take care of the skis next season. “It probably will, but it’s not one hundred percent certain yet. We have started a discussion about the new team members and we have a few names on the list. “
For a small team that works in a family environment, access is very important. “The first prerequisite for new people should be the right attitude. If someone decides to work with us, they must keep in mind that we are doing everything for Petra, “the coach revealed the conditions.
Slalom gold is missing
Petra Vlhová has had many successes. He won a big globe last year, this year’s Olympic gold. He has a total of three small globes – two in slalom and one in parallel slalom.
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In addition, he has five individual medals from the World Championships – gold from the giant slalom, silver and bronze from the slalom and two silver from the alpine combination.
Where will the Liptov native look for motivation? “My motivation is to achieve success, which I still lack. We will try to do that, “said the skier.
“Peta is the type who goes to compete for everything and with everyone. If he is not motivated to be the first, he will stop skiing and find another life’s challenge. While skiing, he will still want to be the best. It has it in it, “adds assistant coach Matej Gemza.
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The next season of alpine skiers is one of the highlights of the world championships in the French resort of Courchevel. Gold in the slalom from this event is missing in Slovakia.
“It simply came to our notice then. We have some ideas, there are a lot of robots in front of us, “said coach Pini.
He’s not eighteen anymore
After a month’s rest, the team will start preparing for the next season. He has completed four days of skiing in Italy.
“It’s not like a training camp. We tried different details there. We have found a few interesting things that we would like to use, “said the Swiss coach.
The Olympic champion will relax throughout April and start the new season after a complete regeneration. “It’s useless to start a new year with the idea: God, again,” she revealed. Vlhová plans to relax and not ski huge volumes during the summer, as was the custom.
“I have to be honest with myself, I am no longer eighteen years old and I have to take more care of my body. We will relax and ski in August, September and October, “she added.
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