Eduard Hallberg beat Levi in the World Cup slalom. He brought sports icons to tears and even his father’s heart to “explode.” Kalle Palander had a strong message after the race.
Roope Visuri,
Inka Henelius,
Janne Karinkanta
Finnish alpine skiing permit Eduard Hallberg was no less than eighth in the Levi World Cup in the opening round of the slalom competition. It got both ‘s alpine skiing experts and sport icons Kalle Palander and by Marcus Sandell to tears.
The two opened up in Urheilustudio about how Palander was even a little speechless at the beginning. A tear quickly rolled into his eye.
In the Swedish-language commentary booth, the ceiling of the commentary booth had been hacked. A tear had come to Sandell’s eyes only a few seconds later, when he had realized the hardness of the performance.
Hallberg made some bad mistakes in the second round, but finished. He was 24th in the final results. Finnish men returned to the World Cup points in slalom after an 11-year break.
– This was a good fight. Good thing he scored after those bad mistakes. And this was only due to two mistakes. We have now given such evidence that we can give hard results in the future, Palander analyzed after the second round count.
The 21-year-old Hallberg got a place in the World Cup slalom this season thanks to his good performances last season in the second level in the European Cup. He was third in the European Cup in the slalom cup.
In early 2023, Hallberg also won the World Youth Championship silver in the giant slalom. Last season in the Junior World Cup slalom, he led after the opening round, but stopped in the second round.
– Now the World Cup points account has been opened. There is no need to tell anyone when the next Palander will come or (Tanya) Poutiainen? It has been shown that Hallberg can do it, Palander added in the commentary after Hallberg’s second count.
– This was a very important display for all Finns. This gives confidence to other skiers, coaches, sports federations and sports people that things are done correctly.
Last time, including all alpine skiing disciplines from Finns Samu Thursday has been in the top ten in the World Cup. Torsti was tenth in the Adelboden giant slalom in January 2017.
According to his own words, Hallberg had a good feeling before the start of the second count. He didn’t feel special at all, but quite calm.
– After the first eye of the needle, the first gate. It had a small groove, a slight bevel. I didn’t hit the groove. The ski slipped a little. It was hard to get into a rhythm. There were quite a lot of mistakes. A little left in the tooth cavity, Hallberg described.
He thanked Levi’s audience again for their great support. Hallberg’s season continues with the World Cup slalom next week in Gurgli, Austria. He is not expecting any particular competition in the World Cup this season.
– All these legendary big slalom races. Schladming, Kitzbühel and so on, Hallberg described.
In Norway at the alpine skiing high school
Alpine skiing was the whole family’s hobby in the Hallberg family, and Eduard also got excited about the sport at a very young age.
– I wish I had been 2 years old when I put on skis for the first time. I cried when I had to leave the slope, Hallberg told in 2023.
Sipoolainen has applied for calculus lessons in Norway. Hallberg, who speaks Swedish as his mother tongue, went to Oppdalen alpine high school in Norway after elementary school.
– Finnish high school would also have been possible, but Norway was a good option. People put everything on the line there. There are good conditions and slopes.
by Eduard Hallberg Thomas– father emotionally watched his son’s performances at Levi this weekend as well.
– After scoring, my heart was heavy. It always has been, but now the heart exploded badly. Got a drop on the lens. From now on, Thomas Hallberg described his son’s performance to after the opening act.
Summer is here, and not without complications
Hallberg spent last summer completing his military service in Santahamina, Helsinki. The young alpine ski star returned home from the Defense Forces Sports School at the end of September.
Was in inti at the same time as Hallberg Jesper Kemppainen on Sunday described Hallberg as a relaxed and nice young man.
According to Kemppainen, Hallberg had not been intimated, but the two had enjoyed summer sports together, such as tennis.
However, at least one complaint has been made public. The Finnish national team athletes were stuck in Saas-Fee, Switzerland at the beginning of September. The skiers in technical sports had to return to Finland, but the heavy rains destroyed the only way out, i.e. the road bridge.
You could get out of Saas-Fee by helicopter to a nearby village, but it cost about 150 euros per person. Hallberg, who had completed his military service at the time, took advantage of this opportunity to leave.
Gentlemen:
1) Clement Noel, France 1.53.98 (59.67+54.31)
2) Henrik Kristoffersen, Norway +0.80 (1.00.68+54.10)
3) Loic Meillard, Switzerland +0.95 (59.69+55.24)
4) Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, Brazil +1.05
5) Tanguy Nef, Switzerland +1.36
…
24) Eduard Hallberg, Finland +3.14 (1.00.27+56.85)
Finland’s Jesper Pohjolainen, Jesperi Kemppainen, Turo Torvinen, Erik Saravuo and Salomo Sirviö interrupted.
Ladies:
1) Mikaela Shiffrin, USA 1:47.20 (52.39+54.81)
2) Katharina Liensberger, Austria +0.79 (53.22+54.77)
3) Lena Dürr, Germany +0.83 (52.99+55.04)
4) Anna Swenn-Larsson, Sweden +1.28
5) Camille Rast, Switzerland +1.31
The Finns qualified from the second round. Rosa Pohjolainen was 42nd (56.31), Silja Koskinen 56th (57.80), Aada Kanto 62nd (59.47) and Erika Pykäläinen stopped.