Men’s slalom from Madonna di Campiglio on channels on Wednesday 8.1. Broadcast from the 1st round from 18:40 and from the 2nd round from 21:40.
The sun shines from a cloudless sky and the magnificent, majestic mountains of the Dolomites open in front of you.
Alpine skiers can also enjoy the view by Eduard Hallberg to sigh in admiration. For Hallberg, who is touring the World Cup slalom competitions this season, many competition venues are new. So are the landscapes of Alta Badia, where he arrived just before Christmas to compete in the fourth slalom race of the season.
Hallberg has risen to the attention of the loud alpine crowd by showing right from the start of the season that he belongs even in the top ten of the World Cup – even though it’s only his first season of slaloming at the World Cup level.
In Levi’s home race, the eighth place in the opening round and finally the first World Cup points in the 24th place were, in the opinion of many, still the peak of utilizing the home field advantage.
However, the eighth place achieved in the next one, i.e. Gurgli’s slalom, showed that the 21-year-old from Sipo can achieve good results regardless of the slope.
Hallberg himself has been surprised by his level.
– Has surprised. The fact that the ski goes so hard. Yes, I have credit for what I did, but I would not have thought that I would get to the top 10 right away in my second World Cup slalom.
– It’s pretty sweet.
Enough praise from fellow competitors
Finnish alpine skiing history can be directly felt in Alta Badia.
Many famous Finnish acts have been made on the Gran Risa slope, when Sami Uotila landed as the first Finnish man on the podium in the 2001 giant slalom race. Kalle Palander on the other hand, celebrated no less than three grand slalom victories in his career.
Hallberg is also aware of the Finnish feats on the Gran Risa slope, although he himself did not get to celebrate the good result yet, because the race on Christmas Eve ended in an interruption.
Outdoor races have also been included in the season’s competitions, but Hallberg has immediately raised expectations even for the next Finnish podium finish. It has been 17 years since the previous successful years in slalom.
Palander took his last podium place in November 2007. Marcus Sandell was one of the top runners in the giant slalom after Palanderi and Samu Torstik too got close to the top 10 a few times.
International commentators are already asking in their commentary, Is this the new Kalle Palander? Competitors, old legends – and even Hallberg’s own idols have noticed the Finn.
– Felix Neureuther came to pat me on the shoulder at Gurgli after my first bill and praised it. I couldn’t get anything out of my mouth, I was completely speechless, Hallberg laughs at his own reaction after meeting his childhood favorite.
The Finns have been a popular training club this season, so the Austrian By Manuel Feller and currently representing Brazil by Lucas Braathen top calculators like have also commented and praised Hallberg’s performance.
Media interest has also increased after good performances.
– Many messages have come, but I’m still the same Eddie. Nothing has changed here. Training continues at a normal pace and we move forward with the same mood as before, says Hallberg with a smile on his face and doesn’t seem too bothered by the attention.
Mental strength convinced the head coach
Hallberg has made a splash with his calculation technique. He has been really fast this season, especially on the gentle final parts of the track.
Over the years, the groundwork has been done at Norway’s famous alpine high school, Oppdal, but of course we work with technology all the time.
– It’s a bit difficult to explain. It could be that thanks to my long legs I can make turns well, Hallberg reflects with a smile.
– Stability has improved. I have more confidence in counting and more self-confidence. I can really trust what I’m doing and get into a flow state. That’s probably the biggest thing, Hallberg continues to reflect on why this season has gone so well.
Finnish men’s head coach, Austrian Mario Rafetzer emphasizes that Hallberg’s strength is primarily on the mental side.
The landing technique is fine, but especially the strength of the Finnish head coach has convinced Rafetzer, who joined the Finnish team a couple of years ago.
Many alpine skiers can be really fast in training, but repeating the same in a competitive situation is not so easy. Hallberg has been able to transfer what he performed in training to competitions as well.
– At the starting gate, he is completely focused, and when he comes down, he is able to give 110 percent in his descent, says the coach.
The top 3 place will come when it’s about to come
Hallberg’s starting number has been 35–40 so far, so he still has to count on the worn track.
– He descends in a round line, and it clearly suits him now that the starting number is big and the track is no longer in very good condition. I believe a rounder line is the key to success. It suits him well at the moment, Rafetzeder explains.
However, the men’s level in the World Cup slalom is currently so high that it is difficult to estimate when Finland could get the next top 3 ranking.
Even the head coach wouldn’t want to create too much pressure on his defender.
– It can come today, tomorrow, six months or a year from now. The technology is currently at a good, safe level. Everything else will come when the time is right, Rafetzeder states with a cryptic smile.
And Hallberg is in no hurry either. Olo is very much at home in the World Cup circles.
– Really. It feels like being at home. Although everything has gone really fast, I am here to stay, Hallberg declares.
Men’s slalom from Madonna di Campiglio on channels on Wednesday 8.1. Broadcast from the 1st round from 18:40 and from the 2nd round from 21:40.