Lara Della Mea: I can go well in giant too. I feel safer in slalom

He is 20 years old, he comes from Tarvisio and could be the future of the Italian team's slalom. Lara Della Mea made her World Cup debut last October 28th in the giant SÃ¶lden and won the first points in slalom in the Semmering test, reconfirming her qualities among the tight piles in Zagreb with the 17th place.

Thursday 17 January 2019 7 minutes reading time

How was your passion for skiing born? I started skiing when I was very small. My father, being a coach, put me on skis when I was 3 years old. It's a sport that I've always loved and I've always enjoyed it. Among other things, dress right in front of the ski slopes. I was also enrolled in the Ski club Monte Lussari where my father was training too. I was already competing as a child in the puppies, baby and I was pretty good. This season you debuted in the World Cup and you immediately took the first points in slalom. What changes in this circuit compared to the European Cup? It is another atmosphere. As an audience, as a camera, as an organization it's another thing. Testing the World Cup circuit for me was a great emotion. It was a long time since Italy was waiting for a slalomista and finally it seems that with you it has found a point of reference for the future. Why is it so difficult to get high levels in this discipline? In my opinion between slalom and giant there is not much difference, in the sense that it is not a problem of discipline. I think it was a coincidence that there were not so many slalomists compared to the giant. The question is that it is difficult to get to the World Cup in general. The circuit of the European Cup is already tiring because it starts with very high pectorals. In the World Cup it starts from scratch. This year I managed to make good races in the European Cup with the second and fourth place in Trysil (Norway) that allowed me to start at the World Cup with the chest 40. With 40 you can find pretty good tracks but it is not enough. You have to be in shape, it's not like starting with the low bibs. In addition to the slalom, you also made a giant debut in SÃ¶lden. What do you miss in this discipline to go to points? In giant I improved compared to last year, but I still have to manage to find good feelings in all conditions. Sometimes I struggle when I'm on a certain type of snow or a certain type of slope. I still do not have the security I have in slalom. I'm not skiing in giant, but I can not be continuous. I have to work on it. Do you feel more slalomist or gigantist? I can do well in both disciplines, I feel both slalomist and gigantist. But at this moment in slalom I have more confidence, in giant I have to have a little 'patience. In addition to the debut in the World Cup, you could also be part of the blue contingent for the World Cup. What do you expect from this review? I do not want to think about the World Cup. For me it was already a great thing to have debuted in the World Cup and having taken the first points. I want to continue skiing well and what will come, will come. The members of the Italian team of slalom have been in the World Cup for several years, they have a lot of experience. Do they help you in this new adventure? Yes, they were very friendly to me. Even during the races they always gave me advice and they cheered me. They are really good. They also helped me on a psychological level. Mikaela Shiffrin and Petra Vhlova. Who do you like more? Mikaela Shiffrin. It's impeccable, it's never wrong. It has an incredible continuity. A Tarvisio has been disputing for some years an original tournament: snow rugby. Have you ever tried to practice it? Yes, I tried. I did two training sessions because I have a friend who plays rugby. It's not a quiet sport, I've been very careful. But it's nice as a sport, I like it. Just in the last days, the tournament was held on January 13th and 14th. They have come to Tarvisio rugby teams to play in the snow. You are a young athlete, you have a very long career ahead. What goals do you set for the future? Always give my best in everything I do, commit myself and be determined.

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