Alpine skier Elian Lehto, 22, enjoyed both cross-country skiing and ski jumping as a child. However, he did not want to be the next Golden Eagle. He made that clear even as a young boy.
– I jumped a hill when I was 4–5 years old and or Lapin Kansa came to ask me if I wanted to be the next Janne Ahonen. I replied that no, no, no! I am Elian Lehto, the greatest hope of Finnish alpine skiing at the moment recalls.
Lehto has not wanted to be next either Kalle Palander, because Palander was the ruler of technical sports, especially slalom. Rather, he wanted a new one Beat Feuzas a speedometer.
When Lehto was younger, he also competed in slalom and giant slalom, but little by little speed sports increased in the competition calendar. Since Finland’s small national team does not have its own team for speed sports, it is vital for skiers to go abroad and cooperate with teams from other countries.
That’s what Lehto did too. Negotiations about his joining Switzerland’s tough European Cup team began already a year ago in January, and last fall the transfer took place.
The hard training club and competition situation as well as the good conditions have been reflected in Elia Lehto’s results. After a couple of European Cup competitions, he started his career at the second speed sports World Cup competition in Italy’s Val Gardena and finished 20th in a tough diving competition. The result surprised even the calculator himself.
– It’s been great. [Menestys] came a little earlier than I thought, but that’s not a problem, he laughed.
“Kitzbühel has destroyed careers”
Next, Lehto gets to conquer two legendary downhill slopes, Wengen and Kitzbühel. Wengen is the first of the classic races, as it is counted on January 14, and Kitzbühel a week later on January 21.
Lehto is excited about the opportunity, because both games are surrounded by history, myths and horror stories. The Kitzbühel track in particular has seen the most horrific crashes. In the second season, in the same competition, even two calculators fell badly.
However, Lehto does not think about the danger of Kitzbühel.
– Of course there is a lot of respect around the track because it is so dangerous. It has destroyed careers and maybe to some extent even people, but you can’t think about that when you’re counting. At the point when you’re scared on the track, it’s the same as going crazy.
Skydiving Olympic champion and world champion, from Switzerland Beat Feuz, 35, plans to end his storied career at this year’s Kitzbühel steeplechase. According to Feuz, the wins in Wengen and Kitzbühel are the best a pacesetter can get. He has won the Kitzbühel and Wengen jumps three times.
Lehto is on the same lines as Feuz, because he too considers these victories more valuable than prestigious competition medals.
– Absolutely. At least the Kitzbühel victory is, in a certain way, overwhelming among alpine skiers and alpine skiing fans. I could even say that the Olympic victory does not compare to the Kitzbühel victory, not at all.
The Swiss do everything “with oxygen”
Lehto, who is from Rovaniemi, has had to follow his own paths due to his choice of sport, but the role of a lone wolf has suited him. Just like its predecessor Bode MillerLehto wants to fulfill himself without prejudice.
– Nowadays, you can catch everything on your mobile phone, so you don’t have to be alone. And if it’s a tight spot, you can even hang out with the Swiss.
The biggest differences and lessons that Elian Lehto has learned from the Swiss are, above all, in certainty. According to Lehto, everything is done with oxygen, so to speak, don’t panic, but stick to the plan. Next, the team gets to use VR glasses, which allow the skiers to look at the tracks more closely.
– It’s been great there. They do everything without sparing money and resources. Everything is over. If it’s good to develop somewhere, it’s there.
You have to be with the danger
Lehto landed her first International Ski Federation (FIS) super giant slalom competition five years ago in Åre, Sweden, and her first downhill competition a few months later at the World Championships in Ylläki. The rise towards the top of the world has been fast and even though the Beijing Olympics remained a dream, his potential has been visible.
In jumping and super giant slalom, Lehto is fascinated above all by a certain kind of danger that brings adrenaline to the body. According to Lehto, the skier in speed sports must already accept the fact that the skier can go any way he wants.
– You have to be okay with that. And when you’ve made it down and everything is ok, that feeling of euphoria is incredible.
Lehto focuses on speed sports, but also plans to keep technical sports with him as long as he can. He believes that the recent good results were the result of the fact that he has done a lot of right things during the long process. For the next step to be possible, he needs experience above all.
– I have very few European Cup and World Cup starts in speed sports, but I can see that I am open-minded. I can do good things in every race and every training session and thereby gain valuable experience, which then takes me forward.
The ski jumping background might have been useful, but one of Elian Lehto’s strong qualities has been that he is very good at jumping. He admits that jumping came naturally to him, but there are also other strengths.
– I get fired up when I get to jump far, but I can see that I have a very good technique as a pacemaker. Of course, it is constantly being improved to be faster and better. I try to be good at everything, of course.