Actually it is crazy how fast time goes by. It seems as if last season has just ended up recently, and now the new World Cup season has already begun in Soelden.
Second surgery causes turnabout
Unfortunately I wasn´t able to start there but that doesn´t matter because thinking of the past months I hadn´t thought that skiing during the World Cup season would actually be possible for me. After the surgery at the beginning of March I was faced with big problems in my right knee. First another surgery at the beginning of July caused the turnabout respectively the hoped-for improvement. Dr. Christian Schenk didn´t only remove a screw which fixed the shank, he also "cleaned" my cartilage and removed little split-offs during an arthroscopy. Now I´m kind of "refurbished" and I´m really looking forward to the first speed races at the end of november in Lake Louise respectively at the beginning of december in Aspen.
Skiing is fun again!
The essential training preparation gets into top gear. While I could only do therapy and easy weight training until the end of september, I finally started training on snow at the beginning of october. And I´m quite satisfied - according to circumstances. Of course I cannot put too much pressure on my right knee but I´m getting closer to the limit step by step. And the most important thing: Skiing is fun again and I´m happy about any day I spend on the piste.
Ideal training on the Reiteralm
Of course the premature onset of winter in Austria is advantageous for me. That´s why we can train under real good conditions on the Reiteralm. So not only the journey takes less time - also the pistes optimally prepared with artificial snow are perfect for the preparation for the World Cup races.
Aim: Downhill World Cup
As there won´t be World Championships or Olympic Games in the forthcoming winter, I concentrate on the World Cup completely. And of course my big aim is to win the downhill World Cup. After I had levelled Franz Klammer´s record by winning my fifth downhill crystal globe, it would be a dream for me if I was able to win the downhill World Cup for the sixth time next winter. But I know that won´t be easy because there is a great number of competitors that won´t make it easy for me. Beside Lindsey Vonn (Kildow) I also calculate on Julia Mancuso, Anja Pärson and of course on my Austrian team mates.
Support makes everything easier
However: I´m sure it´s going to be an exciting World Cup season and I hope that I can count on your support like I always could in the past. Feeling you supporting me everything is much easier immediately.
With this in mind I wish a nice winter to all of you and I hope we will meet from time to time.
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