Alain looking forward to the 2002/03 season. This interview was carried out in Autumn 2002.
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| 1. |
What will your programme be for this coming season? |
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In the worst case scenario I'll
be racing on the 16th December. I'll be in the States early November
training with the other guys, whether I'm racing or not, getting my
equipment sorted out.
(Alain's ban has now been lifted and he can compete from 18th August 2002. Please visit Alain's news page
for more info) |
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| 2. |
Will you be entering this season with any injury problems? |
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My back's not too hot but its getting
better. It's general wear and tear really. I've been seeing a
physio at home twice a week. |
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| 3. |
What is the current situation with your appeal and
are you confident of a positive outcome? |
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I haven't heard any more recently. I'll
just have to wait and see how it turns out. I'm obviously hoping for a good result.
(See Alain's news page for the full story of his appeal process). |
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| 4. |
If you are banned from the first World Cup event
how could this effect your season? |
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The worst part will be losing the World Cup
points. Without my Olympic bronze medal I'm rated 30th in the World just now.
If I can't compete in the first World Cup in Park City then I'll be
outside the top 30. This effects my start numbers and is a real bummer as
I feel I deserve to start in the top 30. I've spent so many years getting
up there I think I deserve to stay there. |
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| 5. |
What's your main goal for the next 6 months? |
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To be skiing as well as I was at the end of
last season. I don't really set goals, I just get on with skiing as well
as I can. I was skiing after the Olympics and was racing just as quickly
as before. The Summer is always a funny time because you don't really
know how fast you will be until your first race. You can think you're skiing
really fast and go into the first race and get slaughtered or the other
way round. |
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| 6. |
How has the support been from your sponsors and will you
be changing any of your sponsors this season? |
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No my sponsors will be the same.
They've all supported me over the last few months |
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| 7. |
In the off-season, how many hours a day do you spend
doing physical training when you are not actually on a ski camp? |
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We have 3 weeks off after the season. I
train for 5 or 6 days a week. A minimum of 4 hours a day. I do different
types of training at different times of the year. From May to July it's
all biking and not much weights. This gives me a good solid base. I also
do lots of stretching, co-ordination work and core stability. In August
I start to do lots of weights/strength training and sprints/speed work. |
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| 8. |
How regimented is your training - i.e. do you train
at the same time most days? |
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I do 2 sessions a day. One starts around 9am
for around 2 hours. My other session is usually about an hour after lunch - 1.30 or 2pm.
The time depends how many other things I have to do like interviews and sometimes
I have a game of golf after lunch and then do my training. |
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| 9. |
Who do you train with? |
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I mostly train by myself but sometimes with my
brother Noel, although he has a different training programme to me. Christian
Schwaiger is still my coach and I have a new Austrian physical coach for this season too. |
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| 10. |
Which venue are you most looking forward to visiting
this season? |
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I was really looking forward to the first
World Cup in Park City so hopefully I will be able to compete there. It's
a good hill to start on. Wengen, Kitzbuhel and Schladming are all big ones
too and of course, the World Championships. |
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| 11. |
Apart from skiing, how/where and with whom will be
spending your spare time in 2002'03? |
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They have a little skating rink in Lofer so
I usually go down there with my brother Noel. I won't really get home
that much but we usually get one week off at Christmas and one week mid-season.
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