“I WON’T GIVE UP YET!”
It was no good race for Sigi Grabner at the FIS Alpine Snowboard World Cup in Rogla (SLO), he reached the 28th position. „The first round was relatively good, but the second run was totally messed up,“ he said.
Despite the setback he still believes in his chance going to the Olympic Games: „Never give up hope. But now the decision is no longer in my hands. The coaches and association officials will make the decision, whether I go to Sochi or not. I see my strength in the balance in both disciplines.“
pic by Isamu Kubo
FULL FOCUS ON OLYMPIA
Last chance in Rogla: “I want to qualify for Sochi!” Next Saturday, on the 18th of January, it’s the penultimate World Cup race of his career and very important.
In the last event of the FIS Alpine Snowboard World Cup, still belonging to the Olympic qualification, the 38-year-old Carinthian wants to solve his Sochi ticket. Accordingly, the race board-Ass is motivated and focused for this important race. “I have had good experiences with Rogla and won my first major international title there,” said Grabner. “I want to make it similar this time and finish on the podium. I want to qualify for Sochi!” In the meanwhile the carving specialist prepares with his two World Cup colleagues Justin Reiter (USA) and Masaki Shiba (JPN) in Lienz. “The temperatures are similar in Rogla. I think I’m on the right track,” said Grabner.
pic by Miha Matavz
THE LEGEND: SIGI GRABNER
It’s more or less a common fact, that big names of the scene like Shaun White get recognised whenever they walk out of their front doors or hit the slopes around the world. It’s pretty rare that this happens to someone competing in the alpine snowboard disciplines. Siegfried Grabner is one of those exceptions to the rules as the Austrian race board veteran gets recognised pretty much – especially in Asia. Whenever some Japanese fans are walking by asking for an autograph, the 2003 World Champion, who is still wearing his signature plait of hair, stops and takes some time for a chat.
This special relationship with the land of the rising sun emerged after his first trip to the fourth biggest island state of the world in 1997. “The flight to Japan was my first big trip. Japan was a totally different world; everything was completely new to me” Sigi remembers his first travel experience. However, this journey finally turned his world upside down. The first Austrian male snowboarder to earn Olympic honours (Bronze in the 2006 PGS) got to know a local video production crew ending up with some movie parts over the next years. Due to his long freeride and carving sequences and because of some videotaped snowboard teaching lessons the 2009 Overall World Cup winner became a big star in Japan. “The videos were good sellers. So, everyone in Japan and Korea, who was into this, knew me.” And never forgot this outgoing snowboarder. But although the Carinthia native had a strong connection to Japan he also had to deal with one of his biggest defeats taking place on the Honshu Island in 1998. At the Winter Olympics in Nagano, where he was the biggest bid for Gold, Grabner came out as disappointed 23rd.
However, this “boarder between the worlds”, which is literally the title of a book he wrote in 2003, learned from experiences like this one; especially after he couldn’t met his and the media’s expectations at the 2002 Winter Games again. He came back winning the title at the Worlds in his home country, at Kreischberg, in 2003 plus proving his outstanding riding skills by grabbing a podium spot in Torino – a medal which no one really had expected. “Those two medals for sure are what I call my biggest success” Grabner said. Those achievements and the moving to La Massana, Andorra, which has been his main place of residence for quite a ten years now, gave him the chance to widen his perspective. While the 1975 born is still focusing on sportive success he also took his time to invest in the future.
The highly decorated rider, who claimed 34 podiums including 14 wins in more than 135 World Cup starts until the end of the 2013 season, started to develop his own boards also forming his own team of young and promising athletes from all over the world. However, although another injury set him back in the preparations for his last Olympics his experience and carving skills still make him part of the big names aiming an Olympic medal. And by doing so, this true snowboard icon is close to set a record as the most successful athlete of the past two decades could be one of the only two snowboarders (other one is Jasey Jay Anderson) to compete in so far all five Olympic Winter Games since the introduction of the sport in 1998. It would be a nice topping on an outstanding career which will definitely come to an end March 2014.
pic by Pertramer
EMOTIONAL LAST RACE OF SIGI GRABNER
Emotional last race of the snowboard icon on home soil.
Yesterday’s last parallel slalom of the season in Bad Gastein not only featured the first two Crystal Globe decisions with Patrizia Kummer (SUI) and Sylvain Dufour (FRA) coming out successfully on the race for the title but also a very emotional good-bye of a veteran race boarder. 38-year-old Siegfried Grabner had participated in his last World Cup race on home soil which also was the last PSL World Cup of his 20-year-long career and was thus overwhelmed by his feelings after finishing in Bad Gastein as 13 ranked rider.
“It wasn’t the result I was hoping for but still a very notable experience. It was great how the crowd and the Local Organisers did celebrate me. I’m deeply moved and have to admit that it’s hard to find the right words,” Grabner said having a lump in his throat. Event Organisers and his long-time sponsor Red Bull had put up a king’s chair for the snowboard icon in the finish area from where the Andorra resident was able to watch the rest of the final show after his out in the round of the top-16.
pic by Miha Matavz
SIGI GRABNER TO COMPETE IN AUSTRIA FOR THE LAST TIME
Snowboard veteran Sigi Grabner, who is currently racing his last season as pro, will compete in his last parallel events on home soil at Bad Gastein this weekend. On January 10 and 12, two parallel slaloms are scheduled.
Other than expected, the 38-year-old race boarder, who had been one of the most prominent faces of the scene in the past two decades, isn’t sad at all but looking forward to his last visit in front of an Austrian fan crowd. “I’m very excited to do those two races. It’s nice to have the chance to compete in Austria; especially as my family and a lot of friends will come around to cheer for me,” Grabner said.
However, the 2003 World Champion won’t take it easy as he is still chasing his goal of making it to his fifth Olympic Winter Games. “Austria has got a strong squad. The young guns are pushing us. There are four races left to make it. I just feel the joy of riding coming up again, and when I had this feeling in the past, the results came automatically,” the 2006 Olympic Bronze medalist added optimistically.
In addition, Grabner has pleasant associations with Bad Gastein. In December 2006 he became the first male alpine snowboarder to win a race on the Bucheben slope. “Bad Gastein is something very special to me. I always enjoyed the racing there. It’s nice to be able to say good bye to my home crowd in Bad Gastein.”
press service: Oliver Kraus
pic by Heiko Mandl
LOOKING FORWARD TO CAREZZA
Sigi Grabner looks forward to the season opener in Carezza: “I’m in a good mood!” Battle for Olympic places begins on the weekend.
Tomorrow the snowboard icon Sigi Grabner starts in his 20th and final pro season. On 13th and 14th of December are at the World Cup kick-off of the alpine snowboarders in Carezza, South of Tyrol, each one parallel slalom and parallel giant slalom on the program: two races in which it is the qualification to his fifth Olympic Winter Games for the 38 -year-old race boarder.
“I am in good shape,” said the two-time World Cup titlist who is preparing with the entire Austrian team in South Tyrol at the start of the season. “I expect two good races that I drive fast and I want to follow up on where I left off last season.”
pic and press service by Oliver Kraus
SIGI IS READY FOR LAST SEASON
The upcoming winter will mark a very special one for snowboarding icon Sigi Grabner. The 38-year-old will enter his last season of active racing. A circle of 20 years on top of his game will complete with the 2014 World Cup finals at La Molina, Spain, next March.
After more than 140 World Cup starts, six FIS World Championships and four Olympics – with the fifth totally focused on – a long career as an athlete will come to an end.
“I’m not afraid of calling it a day,” said the old hand of Austrian and international snowboarding during his on-snow training camp staged at the Mölltaler glacier.
Quite the contrary, the rider who resides in Andorra for more than ten years now, adds: “I’m feeling strong and due to my injure-free pre-season even fitter than the past two years. I’m having fun with racing. But after this season, it’s time to ring down the curtain on my career! Twenty years are enough.”
However, Grabner is looking forward to his final head to head duels with his international and national rivals on the circuit and wants to mix it at the top once more.
“I want to strike once again in my last season. I’m fit, I’m enjoying what I do. Everything is possible, in the World Cup and at the Olympics. Bringing home another Olympic medal would be the icing on the cake”, explained the 2006 Winter Olympic parallel giant slalom Bronze medallist.
If the son of a hill farmer manages to compete in Sochi next February, he would be the only snowboarder besides Jasey Jay Anderson (CAN) – if the reigning PGS Olympic Champion also makes the cut – having participated in all Olympic Winter Games ever since snowboarding got introduced to this major event at Nagano, Japan, in 1998.
“I would love to fulfil my dream. And five participations would also perfectly match the five Olympic rings.”
pic by Martin Lugger
DAY 16: SOCHI – WE ARE HERE!
Riding To Sochi – Sigi Grabner Roadbook – 13 May 2013 – Distance 188k: Tuapse – Sochi –
Adler
Total distance: 3110k
We did it! Finally we arrived in Sochi. On the 16th day of our ride, after 3.110 km of distance and after having passed 8 different countries. We met very nice and very interesting people, have seen many different landscapes and had a lot of wind and a lot of fun. We are in the place now where in February 2014 we will be competing for Olympic medals.
Oh man, what we see here is a 30km construction site! Road works are going on, everything is full of trucks and construction workers, there is a lot unfinished, but you can feel the dynamic. They will of course finish everything and it will be glamourous! I am looking forward to be a part of it.
We stayed in Sochi just for one day. Now we can go back home. Zee Italians will drive their huge bus home – now that all the papers are completed, they won’t have any difficulties to pass the borders 😉 and I am going by plane tomorrow, together with our two fabulous media-men Daniel and Metchi, who spent nights and days with us filming, editing, cutting and uploading and now deserve some sleep 🙂 Thank you so much guys, it was good working with you and we had a good time together!
People, come with us on our trip and check the “Riding To Sochi” video clips, this guy Metchi really did a great job. Thank you for following my blog and for your words of encouragement and compassion. We did it!Enjoy riding and stay free
Sigi
DAY 15: A MASSAGE WOULD BE NICE
Riding To Sochi – Sigi Grabner Roadbook – 12 May 2013
Distance 216k: Anapa – Novorossiysk – Gelendzhik – Dzhubga – Tuapse
Total Distance: 2.922k
In the challenge at the border control we lost a lot of energy. We feel empty today. Although the road along the Black Sea coast here would be very nice to ride – it is hilly (Caucasus Mountains are starting) and the climate is favorable, not too windy and mild – we are struggling to keep up with our daily program. The region is very beautiful and touristic – beach holidays would be nice now, or we’d better stay in one of the huge rehab-relax-wellness complexes and have a treatment 🙂 and some nice massages…
After 216km we arrive in Tuapse and are finished. Distance to Sochi: 119km
DAY 14: ONE MORE BORDER
Riding To Sochi – Sigi Grabner Roadbook – 11 May 2013
Distance: 121k Kerch – Kavkas /Russian boarder – Anapa – Total distance: 2.706k
We take the ferry boat in Kerch to cross over to the Russian boarder, it takes us only 25 minutes. Then we spend nearly the whole day at the Russian border control in Kavkas. Our bus has not the necessary papers from Italy and is not allowed to enter into Russia without these papers. It’s clear that we are in problems now.
Two German-Kazach people happen to hear us speaking and offer their assistance. We are sooo lucky! They do the impossible and organise an official translator and also an official local certifying notary. After hours of waiting and translating and stamping – hours that they stay beside us all the time – Fisch gets his papers for the bus and is allowed to enter into Russia.
Thank you, spassiba, danke! It is so great to meet people who just help you. We learn that their names are Renat and Olga Wagner and that they run a little hotel in a nearby town, Anapa. We decide to stop in Anapa overnight and stay in their hotel. I am grateful that people like them exist on our planet. They do! It’s good to know that there are great people in this world!
