BRATISLAVA. After winning the night slalom race in Courchevel, Petra Vlhová enjoyed a moment of Christmas relaxation with her family.
She spent Christmas Day in Italy, where she moved the very next day after the jubilee thirtieth victory in the World Cup carousel.
“I tried to rest and, above all, to put my body together. Night races give me a hard time. I feel that my body needs more time to regenerate. Of course, every race is difficult, but during the night races, I don’t sleep properly the next day, or I can’t sleep that evening,” she revealed at an online press conference.
Slovak-American rivalry
The Slovak skier was satisfied with her performance in Courchevel. She felt good about skiing. However, regeneration was more difficult.
World Cup in Lienz 2023
Thursday 28 December 2023:
Giant slalom: 1. neck 10:00, 2. neck 1:15 p.m
Friday 29 December 2023:
Slalom: 1. neck 10:00, 2. neck 13:00
/races are broadcast by stations RTVS, CT Sport, Eurosport 1 a ORF 1/
“It also depends on how the race turns out. If they turn out badly and I can push it out immediately, I’ll fall asleep fine. If I win, I have adrenaline in me that will make it impossible for me to sleep. The next day I can pull myself together and it’s better,” she continued.
Vlhová won in the French center for the first time in her career. She was second after the first round, but after the second run she got ahead of her rival Mikaela Shiffrin.
In slalom this season, it’s only about the Slovak and the American so far.
“I don’t like to say that it’s just between us, even though it looks that way from the previous slaloms. There are also other female competitors who are trying to catch up with us, although so far this season it looks like Mikaela and I are above the others in terms of performance. We still have a lot of races to go, so everything can change and we’ll see how it goes.”
Slovak skier Petra Vlhová celebrates on the podium with her team after her victory. (Author: TASR/AP)
He doesn’t think about feelings
The Slovak trained already on the first Christmas holiday. However, priority was given to training for the giant slalom.
“After the night slalom, I have not yet stood on slalom skis. However, I believe that the feeling of skiing will still be the same. It is only a few days from Courchevel. We tried to use the week before this night race to prepare another competition section in Lienz and Kranjska Gora.
Now, before the race, it’s only about the feeling that I was standing on skis. There is no space for training and chasing kilometers. However, every race is different and my feelings also change. I also have to work with myself so that I don’t attach too much importance to the fact that I feel bad.
Sometimes I feel good and ski bad, sometimes I feel bad and ski good. I don’t give much weight to feelings. I’ll come to the start and see how I do.”
It doesn’t solve the points
Vlhová was successful in Lienzi in the past. Two years ago, she won in the slalom and finished second in the giant slalom.
“Lienz is specific. The sun does not shine much on the slope, it is in the shade. It’s more difficult because we can’t see much under our feet there. The hill is good for both giant slalom and slalom. It all depends on what the conditions will be. Even though it’s warm now, I believe the conditions will be good.”
What goals does the Slovak skier have for the next few days?
“I probably don’t need to tell you what my goals are. I want to win,” she said with a smile.
In the slalom ranking, Shiffrinová loses 50 points to the leader. However, she does not think at all about the point drop in Levi, which would catapult her to first place.
“A competitor cannot take it that way. I will not change what happened in Levi. At the end we can say what if. But that’s not what sports are for. It’s behind us. I go from race to race. I am not settling any points. Everything counts in the end. Every race I try to go all out and show my skiing.
Preparation for the peak of the season
A demanding program awaits the Slovak representative. In January, he wants to devote himself exclusively to technical disciplines.
“After Lienzi, I will go back to Italy, where we will train. From there we will go to Kranjska Gora. Then we plan to go home, because I will not go to the speed events.
I have a week off there and will prepare at home in Jasná. From there I will move to Flachau.’
The whole January effort will end at the home race in Jasná.
World Cup in downhill skiing
2023-12-27 01:47:26
#Mikaela #terms #performance #Vlhová #responded #slalom #dominance
