Henrik Kristoffersen confesses: "Super-g? Better to focus on giant and slalom, where I want to win again"

The Norwegian champion, guest of the Rossignol group, spoke of the prospects for next season with the umpteenth World Cup assault

Wednesday 5 June 2019 6 minutes reading time

In the past few summers, Henrik Kristoffersen had openly launched the gauntlet to Marcel Hirscher, to try to oust the king of world skiing from his throne. The 24-year-old from Lorenskog (he will turn 25 next 2 July) failed in his intent and, already from the first months of last season, seems more focused on the short-medium term, â€œto not stress too much thinking about the Cup, an error that perhaps I have committed in the past, "said Henrik some time ago. Visiting in Saint-Jean-de-Moirans (not too far from Grenoble) the home of the house that has supported him since his debut in the maximum circuit, the world champion of giant has confessed to the colleagues of Ski Chrono, admitting that the oro di Are has somehow saved a difficult vintage, particularly in "his" specialty, the slalom where he did not get any success after five consecutive signings. "My giant level was very good throughout last season, apart from the race in Alta Badia (ended in 14th place) - Henrik confesses - It wasn't like that in slalom, ending without a win was a disappointment but I must say that in the last two or three years I have concentrated mainly on work between large doors. The goal is to return to the highest level even in slalom and be at the top in both disciplines ". When asked about the final goal for the 2019/2020 vintage, devoid of major events, HK94 does not expose too much: "I will try to bring home as many races as possible, because only by winning can you think of the cups. The green light at the finish line is the best sensation in the world, that's why I have green attacks ... ". Kristoffersen should have debuted in a World Cup super-g in Bansko, before the race last February in Bansko was canceled; at that point, no Kvitfjell and Soldeu finals competitions, but the speed project was not abandoned by the Norwegian champion, who only took part in a speed test in the Cup, or the super-g valid for the Bansko combined. "I still don't know what my future will be in this regard - explains Henrik - I think for now it is better to stay focused on slalom and giant, because winning eight races in the technical disciplines is better than trying to get some points in super-g; I say this because it requires training to keep at most in two specialties, but I do not exclude disputing a couple at most â€. Finally, the theme linked to the private teams and the opportunities offered by the federations, as in the case of Hirscher first and then Pinturault, the great rivals of the Norwegian who, instead, has just lost in court the lawsuit linked to the sponsor Red Bull. "It is likely to have the same kind of structure as Alexis. We are no longer in the 90s, if you want to compete at the top, especially in slalom and giant, you have to be as professional as possible, don't waste time and a thousand other things. Hirscher and Shiffrin have long been on this road, the same would have wanted to do Pinturault previously, but he had been prevented. The Norwegian federation does not share this way of working, but high-level sport is going in that direction ".

105

Social media engagement