Many of us remember the tears in OS 2014.
Even more remember the tears four years later in Seoul in the winter.
Sandra Näslund of joy. Fifth place as a 17-year-old was her big breakthrough in the skicrossvärldstoppen. In Pyeongchang sprayed the tears of other reasons: Anger and disappointment.
Sweden’s in advance, perhaps the greatest OLYMPIC guldhopp missed the medal as four – after the scrimmage in the final, with the swiss world CUP-runner-up Fanny Smith.
“I still think she did wrong and that I was not given a fair chance to show the rides I can,” says Näslund in the day.
” But I get to take with me that it is so in the OS. People will be at the limit and maybe a little bit over the limit. And as long as the judges can see, everything is permitted.
“It was a dream that was shattered,” says Näslund without beating around the bush.
” I had said quite clearly that I was just looking to win the gold… and so do I one of my worst results all season. It is clear that the man was very disappointed there and then. Even if a fourth place is really not bad.
was unexpected. And do not wonder at it.
Sandra Näslund is the reigning world champion in ski cross. Last season she took to the in addition by far the home the overall victory in the world cup – after nine podium finishes, including seven victories in ten races.
Broadens you to count any open slots has the now 22-year-old swede has not missed the top-four in an international competition in two years. Or, to be more precise, since december 21, 2016.
“If I look back on the last season now so I’m still crazy happy about everything,” says Näslund before the winter start of season, in the swiss Arosa on Sunday and Monday.
– Two fjärdeplatser was my worst result. It shows the high level of severity I have.
” It’s clear that you may take things from there. I arrived as the favorite and had won the last four races before. But I take with me to the OLYMPICS is a special competition. It is not possible to just go in and do what you always do, “says Näslund and continues:
” I noticed that there were many who really steppade up, and all really want to win at any price.
She adds, the same theme – a question on which the detail will be the most important the coming winter:
– It is to have the head with me the whole season, and when it really is needed the most.
Sandra Näslund was inconsolable after the gold and medaljmissen in the OLYMPIC games in Pyeongchang. Photo: Jonas Lindkvist
***
two in the afternoon, but a milky the high lights is the only source of light in an otherwise grey Idre. The fog is dense when skicrosslandslaget this afternoon säsongsladdar in hemmabacken.
this Morning’s early workout got broken. This pass can certainly be implemented, but the base is hardly optimal.
the national team coach Eric Iljans put out a track with storslalomportar in the wet snow.
Sandra Näslund cords in next to the DN a bit up the hill, and says:
– It becomes very soft, and it is easy to saltar break the track.
” But yes, there is some thing in all cases.
skicrossåkarna a prank during the autumn. Well in december has the first two world cup events, in the French Val Thorens and the austrian Montafon, set on the basis of snöbrist. But now the premiere is finally get rid of – in Arosa in Schanfiggdalen, where Sandra Näslund was at the top of the podium in the last year.
“I have a fine sense from the fjolårssäsongen that I take with me,” she says before the start of the season.
” It has been good training in the summer and now in autumn, it also felt good, that we have had time to go. So now I’m psyched on a new season.
Early träningsmorgon in Idre. Photo: Jonas Lindkvist
***
the upcoming world CUP-the year has also been different.
In August attended Sandra Näslund in the alpine fartdamernas försäsongsläger in the Italian Stelvio.
she Is going to switch sports?
No – but in the OLYMPICS 2022 and the OLYMPICS in 2026, we can, perhaps, get to see skicrosstjärnan start in several branches.
” Neither I nor my coaches believe that it is any disadvantage to train speed and maybe with the combine, says Näslund.
– currently, I feel that the focus is on the ski cross, but then we will see what happens.
” No, not really. Nothing says that it is impossible.
And there would be an OLYMPICS to Sweden (2026) it would be even more enticing. It would be awesome.
What it boils down to is, inter alia, a bet on the super-G. Which showed the Czech Ester Ledecka in the winter that it is possible to peel all the way to the OLYMPIC gold medal – despite a resident in another ”förstagren” (snowboard).
– It was crazy awesome to see, ” says Sandra Näslund.
– you Can combine snowboarding and super-G, why not ski cross and super-G?
she is not. But as ungdomsåkare tested her the most and made a couple of farttävlingar, ” she says. Allroundtänket spurs. And it can also provide advantages in the ski cross.
” I think it is something that would benefit me. If I practice more speed, I would become a better skicrossåkare. So, even if I choose not to compete in it so it is good to practice it.
Organizational features ski cross in preparation for the upcoming season gone, together with alpine skiing in the Swedish ski association. And the Swedish farttalangerna Lin Ivarsson, Lisa Hörnblad and Helena Rapaport know Sandra Näslund ago in the past.
” It was their first camp of the season, so much was about to reiterate the basics – but it was good.
And it was fun to hear some new voices on the training, get some new angles.
” Yes, but I think enough. Many can be very snowbound in what they are doing, choosing a sport and so you train just.
” But what I think has made that I have come to the place where I am today is that I love to ski and I have gone very different type of skiing, and played around on the skis. It I do not think you will not forget. It is as well as the foundations and it is good to continue to be an all-round skiers. It is useful.
Sandra Näslund calls for more cooperation between the various sports and disciplines. ”Many people can be very snowbound in what they are doing.” Photo: Jonas Lindkvist
***
In the winter only applies to ski cross and where has Naslund both a världscuptitel – and a world CHAMPIONSHIP gold medal to defend.
the Season’s world CUP will be determined in February in the united states.
” Yes, it must be said. It would be foolish to have any other goal with the season I have behind me, and I won the last, ” says Sandra Näslund.
” you just have to try and defend it there, but it will not be an easy match.
What detail will be most important for you to be successful in the winter? (big survey with the Swedish vinteridrottare)