Racing: Palander signs new contract
Finn set to stay with Fischer until retirement?
In a flurry of flashbulbs and with numerous media representatives in attendance, Kalle Palander (FIN) and Fischer Sports yesterday announced their plans to continue working together. The skiing star also took part in a question and answer session at a press conference in Helsinki.
Kalle, you signed the new contract with your equipment provider Fischer Sports yesterday. Was it clear for you that you wanted to stay on this team?
Oh yeah! It was clear for me that I wanted to carry on working with Fischer. Everything – the material and the team – worked so well and I'm really happy with the signing today.
How important is your supplier for you?
Very important. For a racer, the material is the most important thing of all. But for me the question was the service guy. I wanted to have Manfred Brunner beside me again. And once we'd fixed this, it was clear for me that I was going to stay with Fischer.
Did you also test other skis and boots?
No, not at all!
What is the duration of the new contract with the Austrian company?
The new contract is for two more years.
Does this mean that you will be staying with Fischer until you retire?
I don't want to promise anything. I've been so motivated in training in recent weeks, I can't really say when I'll retire from racing. If I'm on top, I might even ski for another two years.
How is your injury? Are you back on the slopes again?
I don't feel any pain at all. Even after four weeks on snow now. Next week on Wednesday and Thursday I'm going to compete in my first races again here in Finland.
The fact that there was such a huge media presence here yesterday for your signing shows that you are still extremely popular in the world of skiing. What makes you stand out?
Hmmm… I've been very lucky in Austria – that's where I've achieved my best results. And in Finland I was the first Alpine racer to make it to the top – that made me popular. Apart from that I'm a person who always speaks his mind. So people either love me or they hate me!
What can your fans expect from you in the coming season?
I need to be realistic. I need to be settled when I go into the first races. I'll have bad start numbers to begin with, which is why I'm training hard to make sure I see the finish line in the first races. We'll be able to say more after a few races. A big goal of mine is, of course, to win a medal at the Olympics – and if you do win a medal, gold is the best one to have!
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