Ski topper Michelle Gisin thinks about it at the end of the world: ‘I’m stuck’

What do you focus on?
In the giant slalom. I want and need to practice this discipline well again. It is the basis for all other disciplines. And I’m going back to basics.

What does that mean?
That I currently have to rebuild my technique with the same skis and boots without testing and trying too hard. Even worse conditions are very useful for me because you have to be very stable on the skis.

For the first time in six years you didn’t get a single podium finish last winter. The low point was the World Cup when you were still a long way from a medal.
A lot has happened to me. What hurt me the most was not getting up to speed at all in the giant slalom.

The switch from Rossignol to Salomon has put you off course, hasn’t it?
Not thrown off course, but shortly before Levi I had to change my shoe size due to an infection. From then on we struggled with the set-up, especially when I gradually lost my confidence after the crash in race one.

You had already said before the winter: “The switch to Salomon can also be done in the pants.” A premonition?
Above all, I knew that it would not immediately work in four disciplines. The biggest challenge was the ski boot. My right foot is an inch longer than the left. Hence the problems before the start of the season. But in ski racing, you can’t just say, “I’ll go up a shoe size and the problems are solved.” Suddenly the levers don’t work anymore.

And you can’t build a new ski boot in the middle of the season. Did you catch up with Salomon?
No, I’m riding with a smaller ski boot again. But we learned a lot from last winter. Now everything fits. That’s a big relief.

Last winter you were annoyed by the constant questions about material problems.
Because that was only part of the problem. I made mistakes myself.

Which?
Before the season opener in Sölden I was super nervous and full of energy. Then the race was canceled and I couldn’t get rid of the tension, it just built up. Then there was the slalom in Levi, where I fell. I lost my confidence and struggled to regain it.

The start was bad, okay. But you are 29 and have been at the World Cup for eleven years. Didn’t this experience help you to stay calm?
Maybe I’ve been doing too well in recent years. In the pre-season I suffered from glandular fever all summer. I went into the winter with almost no training and very little expectations. And what happened? It was amazing.

Back then you achieved top places in a row, won gold and bronze at the Olympic Games.
That was like a miracle. Of course I wanted to continue like this afterwards, physically I already felt a lot better. Last season my expectations were absolutely high – and as I am a very emotional skier, the bad descents did not leave me indifferent.

What do you mean?
I love skiing so much that even after so many years I am still disappointed when I can’t ski well. The Super-G worked well, I got fourth, fifth and sixth so it wasn’t all bad. On a technical level, however, it was more difficult. Even though I occasionally felt good turns during giant slalom practice, I couldn’t get them into the races. This has further eroded the already damaged trust.

Could no one help?
Input came from everywhere, many wanted to help. Everyone had a different opinion about what I should change. I was very grateful, but in those moments I should have listened more to myself, to my feelings. I no longer filtered the information from the outside, but got stuck.

You were the only woman to compete in each of the 42 World Cup races.
That was never the goal. But it was always about important points, qualifying for the World Cup or testing the material in the race. The difficult training conditions sometimes made it the only sensible option. It’s hard to say how long it would have taken to rebuild everything during training. I used the summer preparation for that.

Her teammate Camille Rast, who was also new to Salomon, returned to her old kit supplier. Was that not a problem for you?
Never. I was aware that it might take time to build something new. I trust the company and get all the support I need. I fully support the Salomon team and the team is behind me. We are working hard for next season.

Back to reality. For the first time in many years you are no longer with the technicians, but with the speed group. Will you ignore the slalom in the future?
I remain an all-rounder. But my priorities are shifting and the change in the environment is good for me. I am currently investing more in giant slalom because I want to ski better there, but also because it is the basis for downhill and super-G.

Aren’t you afraid of falling behind in the slalom?
The giant slalom is currently in the foreground. Most of the time we all travel together, so now I only switch from speed to slalom when necessary, instead of from slalom to speed like I used to.

There will be no major event this winter. What does this change?
Not too much for me. My enthusiasm for a major event has diminished considerably in recent years. My goal is to be in top shape by January.

In 2026 the Olympic Games of Milan/Cortina are on the program. Are you there?
I really hope so! I am very much looking forward to seeing the Olympic Games in Europe after PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022.

Your friend Luca de Aliprandini is Italian, you speak Italian and live on Lake Garda in the summer.
Besides, my parents have never been to the Olympics. Hopefully you will get one last chance to see me ride this big event that means so much to me.