Hill Size Magazine - november 2017 english version

Hill Size Magazine

Stefan Kraft & Michael Hayboeck

F R IEN DS

J ermun d Lunde r Coach Almighty Ski jumping magazine

S a r a Ta ka n a s hi The Queen

issue no 6 / November 2017

Editor in Chief Przemyslaw Wardega wardega@hillsizemagazine.com Deputy Editor in Chief Martyna Ostrowska ostrowska@hillsizemagazine.com Assistant editor Maria Grzywa grzywa@hillsizemagazine.com Graphic Design Aleksander Milejski Magdalena Gawlik-Lecka Mock up the magazine Magdalena Piwowar Advertisement reklama@hillsizemagazine.com Cooperation: Aneta Biedron, Ewa Blaszk, Karolina Chyra, Klaudia Ferus, Ewa Knap, Natalia Konarzewska, Mikolaj Szuszkiewicz, Dominika Wisniowska, Barbara Zur Publisher Akademickie Inkubatory Przedsiebiorczosci ul. Piekna 68, 00-672 Warszawa Adress of the editorial office AIP VISTULA (Hill Size Magazine) ul. Stoklosy 3, 02-787 Warszawa Contact adress Hill Size Magazine Kreta 7/7, 50-237 Wroclaw Photo on the cover @JumpandReach

Partners:

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issue no 06 | November 2017

table of contents

photo: Maria Grzywa

4 Vincent Descombes Sevoie 6 Joakim Aune 8 Beskydy Tour 10 sara takanashi 12 jermund lunder 16 lillehammer 20 STEFAN KRAFT 24 friends 28 spela rogelj 30 SUMMER GRAND PRIX 32 Ski jumpers and Hill Size Hill Size Magazine

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interview: Martyna Ostrowska photo: Przemyslaw Wardega

One of a kind Expressive happiness after good jumps is almost his flagship. About the Olympic Games, his main goal for the upcoming season and nordic combined, we hear from the one and only guy in the French Team Vincent Descombes Sevoie.

The Winter Olympic Games are coming this season. You have participated in this tournament once in Vancouver.

What is your aim for Pyeongchang?

– Vancouver was fantastic for me. That’s been my first time ever during such a great tournament. Competing there was really exciting. I think every sportsman should experience this during his career.

I wasn’t in Sochi so now I’m focused on Pyeongachng even more. I try to do my best and hopefully I will perform there on the highest level. I will do as much as possible to be in my best shape there.

I’m looking forward to these competitions, but also to other challenging tournaments during the winter – Ski Flying World Championships or Four Hills Tournament. If I perform good in these

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competitions then I will have a much Are there more pros or cons to be more positive approach to rival in Korea. only athlete in the national team?

Anyway, the Winter Olympic Games are – It is not so easy for me because I always the highlight and one of my biggest goals. have to push myself to do better. I don’t have anyone to share my trainings with or just to compare my jumps. My coach You were struggling and had a little helps me a lot of course, but it would be bit hard times before Sochi. Now you great to have some company at the gym are competing on the highest level etc. Unfortunately right now we don’t and it all works pretty fine for you... have any guys on the national team level – That time was really difficult for me. The so I have to deal with all these things on most important thing was that I focused my own. Luckily my jumps during the on what was my goal and what I’d like to achieve. That helps me to work even har- summer, especially during Continental der and to still be motivated to achieve my Cup in Stams, were quite good. It gave me more confidence before winter. goals. Finally I started to feel that I have enough potential to fight for the best results.

Now I feel much more positive about my Do you think there are some guys shape and about how I pushed things for- who can join you in the French natioward. I hope I will continue like this. nal team soon?

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Vincent Descombes Sevoie

– I think there are some guys who are closer to the World Cup level. I would say Paul Brasme and Thomas Roch Dupland have some chance to jump on the international level in the nearest future. I hope some young guys will join me and we will finally have a team.

The team had also a quite hard time when you got the news about Ronan Lamy Chappuis...

– It was really hard for me. We have been working a lot together. We trained almost all the time together. Now I have to do all of these things alone. The situation is not easy and of course it will take some time, also for me, to get used to it. I hope that everything will turn out well for him.

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I wasn’t in Sochi so now I’m focused on Pyeongachng even more. I try to do my best and hopefully I will perform there on the highest level.

I will do as much as possible to be in my best shape there.

You have chosen the Nordic combined first and then you switched it to ski jumping only. Why?

– I have made this decision because it was difficult for me to take part in Nordic combined competitions. I have started really late with cross country skiing and I wasn’t good at it. Ski jumping was always easier and funnier for me.

I was doing much better in jumping than in skiing so I decided to stay only with ski jumping. When I focused only on one discipline, it took some years to prepare my body just for this but it was totally worth it. 

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interview and photos: Dominika Wisniowska

Ski Vlogging

The world of a ski jumper is not only about ski jumping.

Photography, motorization, or exterme sports are just some of the passions of the best athletes in the world.

When Joakim Aune puts his skis aside, he grabs his camera. We talked to the Norwegian about his new hobby – vlogging.

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How and when did you get the idea to start a vlog?

– I got the idea to start my own vlog about a year and a half ago. I’ve always been watching more YouTube than TV and the thought of having my own channel was cool. I didn’t have the equipment but I knew what I need. I said earlier this summer that I was going to start, but then again it seemed quite scary.

How did you prepare before your first vlog? How does it look now in comparison to the beginnings?

– I really don’t prepare that much to record a vlog. I see how my weekend goes and then I try to be creative and see

where and how I can shoot the material for making a vlog. My first vlog was from Planica and I brought my cameras because I knew the scenery there is incredible. Since I was injured because of the operation on my knee, I could only jump in one out of two jumping sessions. I got the idea of starting a livestream on Instagram. Before I knew it, there were 150 people watching. About 500 people saw my first livestream and the feedback was so positive that I took the step to start talking to my camera and made a vlog out of it. Since then the feedback is getting better and I am more self-confident. I got to thank my friends and fans for that.

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Joakim Aune How does the whole process look like and how long does it take from preparing to posting a video?

– I always walk around thinking about new ways to shoot or edit in a creative way. I don’t particularly prepare but I try to see things from a different point of view, and when I find something cool I just shoot a lot and try to edit in a way I want it to be. Although, you need to know how the vlog is going to be before you record with the camera. The idea of how you want the story to be edited is the most important thing. If you don’t have any concept, you will just have a lot of recorded material that is not turning into something.

What kind of equipment is needed when you’re a beginner? Any advice what the vloggers should buy and what’s not needed?

– You really don’t need so much equipment, but of course it will help to make things easier. I started with a Sony a5100 and that I really recommend. It has a flip-up screen and the video quality is good for a low price. I also bought a GoPro Hero 5 Black to get better time-lapse. It can also be used for action and underwater filming to get a variety in vlog. Then I took everything to another level by buying a DJI Mavic PRO drone.

Now I can shoot from every possible angle. I also bought a computer, which was quite expensive and Adobe Premiere Pro to edit. That’s where I mostly work. It’s important that editing goes smooth. If not, you will get tired and give up because things won’t work out as you want.

What would be your advice for people who would like to start vlogging? Any tips?

– My advice is to buy a cheap camera or record with your phone, try to edit and find your way to do it. I would also recommend watching a lot of YouTube to

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see how the others edit and vlog from their perspective. You also have to find your channel’s theme. Mine is sport and travelling. The others have gaming, music or make-up channels. There are a lot of different ways to go, but it’s important you have your own style and stick to it. Try to edit in a way that makes people interested in seeing more. Having long, boring vlogs with no action or story is just a No. Better make it short, accurate and really interesting. That’s the key to get more viewers!

Do you already have any interesting ideas for the winter vlogs?

– I will try my best to make at least some short videos like behind the scenes and show you how the life inside of ski jumping is. I wish more people knew how it is and now I have a chance to bring the story out to you. Follow my Instagram and subscribe the YouTube channel so you can be ready for the winter! 

After the winter season starts, do you think that you will be able to keep posting as regular as now?

Won’t it be distracting?

– I think sometimes in the winter it will be hard because we really don’t have time to do anything else apart from travelling and competing. I can still talk a bit about the situation and don’t edit so much, just to give the viewers an update on what’s going on. I will still try to make good vlogs, as long as it doesn’t affect my energy level and ski jumping.

However around Easter and in the end of the winter, there will be a lot of time for cool vlogs. I have great plans for the next summer, but it’s hard to say how it will work out in the winter since it’s the first one with vlogging.

I guess people should subscribe my channel to see how it turns out. I think I can give a unique perspective from the inside while being an athlete.

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photos: Aneta Biedron / Maria Grzywa

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BESKYDY TOUR photostory

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interview and photos: Aneta Biedron translated by: Hetty Hu and Ewelina Wojcik

T he Q ueen

Sara Takanashi is one of the most recognizable and titled female ski jumper in the world. She gathered the biggest amount of World Cup and Summer Grand Prix wins. Although she is only 20 years old, she is a complete sportswoman, who knows that you have to work hard to achieve something.

Amazing girl from the Land of the Rising Sun told us about her life and her preparations for the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

You are one the best female ski jumpers.

How do you prepare for the season?

– I’m really thankful to be called the best female ski jumper, but I don’t think I’m good enough for that title yet. There’s still a lot to improve. I have to train mentally, physically and technically and I need to become better. I will work with my coach and other supporting staff on becoming stronger. Now is a good time to test a variety of equipment, like new skis, and practice for the Winter Games.

You have an amazing record of 14 consecutive victories in the Summer Grand Prix, as well as over 50 victories in the World Cup. Does it put any pressure on you, when you enter new competitions?

– I don’t feel any pressure from my results, of course it’s good to win, but it’s the participation that matters. Of course there are always some good and bad things. You want it to go well and you practice for that. I have certain goals set for myself in my head and I practice to

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achieve them, but other than that, I don’t think about the results. I’m just trying to improve the bad ones.

In Japan, female ski jumping seems to be very popular. How do you feel about it?

– I don’t think it’s popular but I hope it will be. The Japanese have a lot of sports where they dream about competing on a higher level. I don’t think that ski jumping has that much fans, but little by little, the popularity of female ski jumping seems to grow. I think it would be nice if I could make it more popular.

You were the first female athlete who appeared on the cover of the Japanese edition of „Women’s Health”. Was it a pleasant experience?

– I’m not sure myself! (laugh) It’s not very common for athletes to appear on the front cover and I’m grateful for that.

I thought it could be a great opportunity to promote female ski jumping in Japan, and that is why I agreed.

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Sara Takanashi

There are many jumpers who made their appearance in the Olympics or the World Cup. I’m happy to be one of them and I want to hold onto that positive energy to continue jumping. The difference between men and women in ski jumping is quite significant. I hope one day we will be as good and as popular as they are!

Let’s go back to the Olympics – how are your preparations going?

Do you plan to jump as long as Kasai does?

– During the summer I was testing different types of skis and training a lot.

I wanted to prepare properly for the winter season and work on my technique. Before the season starts, I want to move some of my equipment closer to Japan and face skiing again. This is what truly matters now. It’s the most important time for us, so I want to have good training and everything prepared beforehand.

– I want to jump as long as I can, but I doubt I’ll be able to keep doing this until I’m his age!

You’re doing great in the individual competitions, but how about performing with the team? Do you like jumping with men?

– Yes! It has a different atmosphere compared to individual starts. For me, having other skilled athletes there is a relief. It’s reassuring to know that I have someone who can help me when I want to improve my skills. There are many great male ski jumpers who help me and sometimes I support them. I think it’s really fun.

Who encouraged you to begin your ski jumping career?

– My father and older brother, who are also ski jumpers. It’s a family business!

What do you usually do outside of ski jumping?

– I’m a student so I still attend classes at the university. It’s a sport-type school, but it’s hard to deal with both studying and training at the same time. Luckily I have a lot of people who help me so somehow I manage to get it all done.

Your male colleagues mentioned that they don’t get to spend much time at home during the season. How do you deal with this situation?

You support each other despite the huge age difference. You are jumping with Noriaki Kasai, the age gap is around 25 years. Does it have a parental part in it?

– My father is a coach back in Japan, so I get to see him more often. As for my brother and mother, I don’t get to see them often, but they’re doing their best to support me. I don’t have many opportunities to meet them during the year, but sometimes when they attend to my competitions we make sure to meet. It’s not often though.

– Rather than a parent, he is a living legend! He has so much more experience than me, so I look up to him and try to learn as much as I can from him.

What did you, as a Japanese girl, find the most surprising during all your travels?

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– I like observing people a lot. We have many fans all over the world, and they have different ways of cheering for us.

I really enjoy observing them. I think in Europe ski jumping is much more popular than in Japan, so more spectators attend the competitions. It’s nice to have a lot of people watching you.

The beginning of ladies ski jumping was pretty harsh but now situation has changed and you can easily compete with males.

– There are many jumpers who made their appearance in the Olympics or the World Cup. I’m happy to be one of them and I want to hold onto that positive energy to continue jumping. The difference between men and women in ski jumping is quite significant. I hope one day we will be as good and as popular as they are!

What would you like to pass on to your Polish fans?

– There haven’t been any competitions for female ski jumpers in Poland for a long time and that makes me very sad.

I would like to go there and compete on my highest level in front of my fans.

I want to show them how I improved and deliver a good performance. I would be very pleased! 

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interview: Martyna Ostrowska photos: Dominika Wisniowska / Przemyslaw Wardega

J e rm u n d

Alm i ght y When Kenneth Gangnes tore his cruciate ligaments thrice, he helped him in full recovery. Two world record holders and the third athlete of last season’s Ladies World Cup had spread their wings under his eyes. He is not a doctor, a shaman or a magician.

For the Norwegians he is a lot more.

We would like to introduce you – Jermund Lunder, the coach almighty.

You have got a huge experience as a coach of various groups. You have been working with girls, boys and children. Do you find a lot of differences between working with females, males and the youngsters?

good or they achieve one of their goals, nothing changes. The self-confidence is always a little bit lower for them.

– I would say it is quite the same for boys and girls. I’ve heard that there is something different about being a coach for girls but my experience has shown me that this is mostly the same. I was really lucky with the girls I’ve been working with. All of them have been always really engaged and motivated to do their job.

They’ve been working for sure as hard as boys or maybe even harder. The only difference I’ve noticed is that the girls don’t get the self-confidence the same way as the boys do. I don’t know why it works like that but my guess is these are just girls and boys things. It doesn’t matter if it is a sport, school or life in general. I think when the boys do something properly they immediately rise their self-confidence level. When the girls perform

– Yes, some of the girls do, but I also have boys with that problem or the same way of thinking. Some boys are just easier. I mean they think less and do more. But of course we also have girls who have that capacity.

There is no general rule for that. On the other hand during my work with female teams I realized that it’s always much more work to do to develop self-confidence for the girl. It is a long way for them to believe that they are good enough.

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Maybe the problem is that girls overthink too much...

Maren Lundby said that when she was training with the boys it was really helpful for her because she had a chance to look how they manage to do some exercises. She had a chance to pick up a lot from them. How helpful mixed training can be?

– I think it is always good to train with somebody on a higher level. It doesn’t matter if it’s boys or girls group. If you train with somebody who is better than you, you always pick up something. I’m sure she got some help thanks to the fact she could see how boys handle their trainings but at the same time boys were learning from her as well. The way she prepares for the session, the way she trains and how she works with technique details. I think it was helpful for everybody. Both of them, male team and Maren, had a great chance to pick up some useful tips from each other.

Does working with children make a big contrast in terms of dealing with mature athletes?

– Yes, it is quite different. When you work with children you have to give them more instructions and show them how to do things step by step. When they get older they can manage to do more stuff on their own, but when they

issue no 06 | November 2017

Jermund Lunder are really young you have to be someone who is a guide for them. There is an idea to have less instructions but more communication and discussions among the young ski jumpers. As we don’t know how ski jumping will look like in 2-3 years from now, we have to think forward. This is up to the athletes and coaches to develop the discipline. When you want to be able to reach new levels you must be open to the new ideas. This is your responsibility to be open-minded and seek for various ways to reach your athlete’s goals.

You should be more patient as well...

– Oh, no. I think you have to be just as much patient as with the mature athletes (laugh).

– One of the most important things is to explain to the athlete how much capacity he still has. He has to know your point of view and be sure that you are convinced about his strength. You have to make him believe he is able to work hard continuously. You both have to trust that ski jumper is able to reach the same level as before. For Kenneth and me it was crucial to re-create the nice and motivating environment for working. When you are forced to show up in the gym alone every day, you should have someone who you can trust. I think this is the best thing you can do for the athlete. When the motivation is back there again and he feels that the commitment is worth it, this is your small success.

What has been the biggest challenge for you as a coach, since you have started to work with ski jumpers?

– Hm...this is not an easy question.

The first thing that crossed my mind is working with Kenneth [Gangnes] while he was struggling with his injuries. That was one of the hardest and toughest periods. If you can say that something is rough in a sportsman’s life you should see him dealing with what has happened.

A person with a heart for the sport and such a huge motivation for ski jumping. No matter what and without any excuse. Even when he was not able to take part in the competitions and full trainings, he was motivated and ready to re-do all of that recovery tasks again and again. Yes, that was for sure the hardest part also for me as a coach.

ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) tear happened to Kenneth not once, but three times in a really short period of time. What was your role as a coach in that rough time?

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bit later than in other countries. Anyway Kenneth managed that and nobody was surprised. He has been strong physically since he has started with ski jumping as a kid. After the first injury he was struggling with some different problems which he has never experienced before. We can only surmise that the ligament tore caused some destruction, so jumping after that was challenging, not only physically but also mentally. I think the awareness that he could never show top level jumps again, was the greatest motivation at the time and let him believe how much potential he still has. When the knee was destroyed for the second time, in Hinzenbach, he was even more motivated. He tried to reach the highest level and he did it. Next season after that he has shown what his best is.

I think now it is quite the same.

You said that he was really promising young athlete but then something happened and it is hard to say what it was exactly.

Why in Norway you don’t have a lot of really young athletes who reach the international level? They do it but always a little bit later than their peers from Austria and Germany.

From medical point of view it is almost impossible to come back to professional sport after three ACL injuries. Has Kenneth got any special features that distinguish him from other athletes?

– I remember when he was young. He was really promising athlete. He reached national team level quite fast. It was quick from Norwegian point of view because our school and training system is a bit different than in Austria or Germany. Our athletes reach that level a little

– I think the reason is that they train in local clubs and teams until they reach the age of sixteen. Then they go to the sport gymnasium where they can train and get education. That means that up to the age of sixteen we don’t have a very professional system for young athletes. There are only their parents and some coaches in the clubs who conduct the trainings. They start training on a professional level when they turn sixteen. They need some years to adapt to the system of everyday sessions. It takes some years to catch up with the international level. We are two or even three years late comparing to

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Austrians or Germans. On the other hand when we look at the results of Junior Championships we are not the background for them. We repeatedly try to close this gap.

You were working with Tom Hilde for quite a long time. This athlete is struggling a little bit right now. Do you know why?

– I haven’t seen him training since he has moved to Oslo. I think the problem is caused by body changes.

It’s the fact that he is not a really young athlete anymore. Time has created some changes in how his body works. When he was a kid he was quite slim and he was more flexible. Now he has to struggle a bit with this change in the body structure. That can be one of the reasons that he doesn’t perform as good as he did in the past.

Can it have any impact on the technique?

– Yes, of course. It always affects ski jumper’s technique. When some parts of the body change, the balance and feeling of it changes as well. For some athletes that turns out well, for some unfortunately it goes the opposite way.

When they grow they start to struggle a bit more because of that change. This is the only explanation I can find at the moment. That natural change has created some difficulties for Tom. When you encounter the obstacle like that and try to be back at the same level, you have to fight with the mental part of this problem as well. When he was younger he didn’t care. He was always happy guy jumping and having fun. Suddenly he got to the

One of the most important things is to explain to the athlete how much capacity he still has. (...)

For Kenneth and me it was crucial to re-create the nice and motivating environment for working.

When you are forced to show up in the gym alone every day, you should have someone who you can trust. I think this is the best thing you can do for the athlete. When the motivation is back there again and he feels that the commitment is worth it, this is your small success.

World Cup without thinking about that.

Maybe now it is more about mental, not only physical barrier, but this is only my presumption.

I think this is different for every ski jumper how he reacts to these kind of things....

– Changes in the body make changes and often difficulties with the technique. But it depends on every ski jumper how his mentality will react to this and how his body will feel after some changes. It is really hard to say in general, because every person is different.

Could they work to enhance their balance? I think you have tried yoga training with one of your groups.

– It really is an individual thing. For some people it’s a lot, for the rest of them it doesn’t work. We started yoga with some athletes who were struggling a little bit with the mobility and flexibility. We have some ideas sometimes which we try out

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with the whole group. After that some of the athletes decide to continue but those who don’t feel it, just stop.

You have been working with a lot of different groups of athletes but also with different coaches. Do you have anyone you look up to?

– I was working as an assistance coach to Mika Kojonkoski and that was a time I picked up a lot about ski jumping. I was a young and not really experienced coach. I was looking up to him quite much. He was a really strong guy and I was really humble while working with him. I have learnt a lot but the truth is I try to learn from every coach I work with.

You have done impossibly good work with Kenneth Gangnes, you were working with Tom Hilde and then Joachim Hauer and Johann Andre Forfang came to you in December 2016 when they were struggling... Are you an emergency coach?

– I was a local coach all the time but I was also travelling with different teams throughout the years. It was Alexander Stoeckl and the national team that asked Christian Meyer and me if we could make a training camp for Johan Andre and Joachim who was struggling at that time. I was staying home at that time, so this was easy to arrange. I was willing to help them but of course I cannot solve all of their problems.

I was just measuring their jumps when they were here in Lillehammer. It wasn’t long emergency call but luckily it turned out good, especially for Johann.

You have done such a great job with Kenneth. You are still working together. Do you have any golden mean how to work with the athlete after such a terrible injury?

– I think I can say we have been doing good job here because we really enjoyed

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Jermund Lunder

our everyday training. We have good spirit among the group. It is fun to go to the gym with the whole group. We have a lot of laughing which makes it less boring when we have to re-do all the exercises many times during the week. We work on a professional level and do our best but also try to have fun and a nice atmosphere. I take care of the training group with Thomas Lobben. He is a really funny guy.

If you create a nice working environment with the laughing and team spirit, you do the best thing. We train together very often. It means we spend most of our lives with each other so we have to take care of the vibes. That’s what creates results.

Winter Olympic Games are coming.

Would you bet who from Norwegian team can make it for a medal?

– It is not easy to be on the podium at such a great tournament. It is even more hard when you have never been in the top three before. I think those who have shown the capacity to be able to win something great are Daniel Andre Tande jumping on his highest level, Johann Andre Forfang or maybe Kenneth Gangnes, if his body works properly. Anders Fannemel was in the top five in Sochi. He was close and showed his best performance when it counted.

That leaves a big room for something great. Then we have Robert Joahnsson.

He is pretty new but he is on his way up. Definitely we have some options but the most important thing is that we have to make our personal bests.

We have to consider all the equipments rules and suit changes as well.

We don’t know who will adopt to them

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Just when we ended up working on the sixth issue of Hill Size Magazine, Kenneth Gangnes sustained another injury of his left knee. The injury will Why Norway has so many good ski fliers? probably exclude the Norwegian from – When our athletes are young they competing in the Olympic season. We transfer quite fast from smaller hills hope the athlete will get well soon! in the best way. But those who will and who will add a great performance will be the happiest ones in Korea.

to the bigger ones. We try to stay with them at smaller hills for a little bit longer to work with the take off movement.

It has some historical background that they always want to go for the bigger hill sizes, take a lot of speed just to have long jumps. It results in the situation when you miss something in the take off power. But they can get the feeling of flying. They lose but also win something. Another thing is we have the ski flying hill in Vikersund. Every year during the competitions we have many pre jumpers there. Norwegians have many trial jumps at the ski flying hill. One of the best examples is Anders Fannemel.

He was a pre-jumper when he has jumped on a flying hill for the first time. We all know what happened few years later.

The situation was the same with Robert Johansson. They may have had more jumps on the ski flying hill than ski jumpers from other countries.

Can we say it’s part of their mentality?

– Yes it is kind of our mentality thing.

Norwegians have always been maniacs when it comes to long jumps. I know that some nations feel better with lower speed and not so long jumps. We do not have barriers when it comes to ski flying. We just fly as long as it is possible. We always cheer for the longest jumps. 

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text and photos by Dominika Wisniowska Edited and translated by Barbara Zur

Size does not matter

In a dark alley of one of New York’s streets a crown witness and a former mafia member, Frank Tagliano, meets with the police to discuss the conditions of their cooperation. „I can’t stay in the States; it’s not safe,” says Frank. A police officer offers him to go to the sunny Bahamas but Tagliano is not interested.

The Goodfella has a different idea. Lillyhammer! The policeman is dumbfounded at this suggestion. Seeing his reaction, Frank indignantly asks: „Haven’t you seen the 1994 Winter Olympics?!”.

Lillehammer welcomes us with a bad weather and a striking silence which is only interrupted for a moment by a colourful bus with high school kids celebrating the end of a school year. But the emptiness of the place is not surprising.

The little town near county Oppland has population of about 25 thousand people so it is by no means a vibrant metropolitan city. So why is this place so special in Norway? In order to answer this question we have to go back in time to 1994.

Five rings enthusiasts For sure many people could not believe when in 1988 a small Norwegian Lillehammer was chosen to be the next Olympic Games host. „If we look at a list of the Olympic Games hosts, Lillehammer is quite a surprising choice.

There were just a few instances where small towns hosted the Olympics. And there were none after 1994. It does not happen very often that a town whose population is about 20 000 people organises the Olympic Games which have gathered almost 2.5 million people in the span of two weeks. I don’t know

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how they did it,” says Sebastian Kuhn who was our guide in the Norwegian Olympic Museum.

The Olympic exhibition is a part of Maihaugen, one of the Lillehammer’s tourist attractions. The exhibition portrays the whole history of both Winter and Summer Olympics from antiquity to modern times. It is quite obvious which Olympic Games are the most important for the Norwegians. „It stems from our tradition and the Norwegian national identity. Winter is definitely more important,” says Kuhn.

It is not by chance that the Olympic museum is in Norway. The idea of the Olympic rivalry is very close to a Norwegian heart. The best example of that is the fact that the father of modern Olympic Games, baron Pierre de Coubertin, got the highest national decoration in Norway. „Coubertin thought that sport is both physically and psychologically beneficial for people.

According to him, people who play sports learn mutual respect. Moreover, the sport rivalry brings out the best in people. He also thought that sport is the best way to unite people and that it is an

essential element of mutual understanding and better communication between nations and cultures”.

issue no 06 | November 2017

Lillehammer

Don’t play with fire The museum has an impressive collection of original Olympic Torches. Not many people know that the history of the Olympic flame in the Winter Olympics began in Norway too. The first „winter” torch relay with the Olympic flame was held during the Winter Olympics in Oslo in 1952. Contrary to the tradition, the flame was not brought from Olympia but from Norway, the Telemark region, to be exact. Sondre Norheim, who is considered a founding father of Nordic skiing and an inventor of a ski binding which enabled ski jumping, was born in that region.

The Olympic flame returned to Norway 40 years later. It is a cold evening on the twelfth of February 1994. A spectacular opening ceremony of the XVII Winter Olympics takes place in Lillehammer. Stein Gruben cheered by 35 thousand spectators sits on the start bar on the Lysgårdsbakken ski jumping hill and takes the Olympic Torch from the previous member of the relay. He concentrates, takes a deep breath and goes down the in-run with the Olympic flame in hand. „The jump was very short, just under the take-off table. During the rehearsals for the opening ceremony the ski jumper who was appointed to jump

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with the Olympic flame had an accident and received an injury. Stein Gruben was his double so he had just a few tries before the opening jump. The officials told him to be very careful,” recollects Kuhn. After a shaky flight Stein Gruben lands safely at about 70 meters. Luckily, the flame was still burning. „Bringing the Olympic flame to the arena in such a way was very risky but very spectacular at the same time,” remarks our guide.

The impressive jump during the opening ceremony was not the only success of the Norwegian ski jumpers during these Olympic Games. In the museum, visitors can see Espen Bredesen’s ski jumping suit. He won a silver medal for Norway on a large hill and a gold one on normal. Unfortunately, the Norwegians had to accept the fact that Germany, Japan and Austria were better in the team competition. In the silver winning team from the Land of the Rising Sun next to Takanobu Okabe and Masahiko Harada, there was 22 years old… Noriaki Kasai!

For the next Olympic silver medal he had to wait as long as 20 years until the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Remember Sarajevo In antiquity, during the Olympic Games there was a ceasefire. No wars could

have been fought in this particular time.

When creating the modern vision of the Olympic Games Pierre le Coubertin was hoping that the same idea can be implemented in modern Europe. „Coubertin created a symbol of the Olympics Olympic rings a day before the outbreak of the WWI. The baron new what is coming. He wanted the Olympic rings to be the symbol of unity of all parts of the world,” explains Kuhn.

A mortar shell hit the Markale market killing 68 people a week before the opening of the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Sarajevo, who was the host of the Winter Olympic Games 10 years before became a centre of the most brutal and bloody armed conflict in Europe since the end of WWII. People could not turn a blind eye on what was happening in the Balkans. Thousands of spectators gathered in the stands in Lysgårdsbakken fell silent when Juan Antonio Samaranch, a President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at that time, urged people in his speech: „Please, stop fighting. Please stop killing. Drop your guns, please!”.

The Olympic Aid is an initiative of the Lillehammer Organising Committee.

Its aim is to help children living in areas affected by armed conflicts. Sportsmen

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Did you know?

Among Norwegian memorabilia from the Summer Olympic Games there is a Polish trace in the museum. Bartosz Piasecki – a Norwegian fencer of a Polish descent won a silver medal during the Olympic Games in London in 2012. "Fencing is not a typical sport in Norway. There are only 6 fencing clubs so this medal was a great surprise to everyone. Because of the broadcast of Pisaceki’s final fight the evening broadcast of the news was postponed. It was the first such an instance in the history of Norwegian television."

and sportswomen alike got involved in helping Sarajevo. Johann Olav Koss, a Norwegian speed skater and a multi medallist donated over 30 000 dollars to the Olympic Aid. He also encouraged his colleagues to help Sarajevo.

For the first time ever the national representation of Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the Olympics held in Lillehammer.

The team was made up of 10 members.

Four of them: 2 Muslims, a Serb and a Croatian run in one Bobsleigh and thus became a symbol of unity. They proved that despite the conflict the citizens of the former Yugoslavia could work together. „Life is made up of little things and that little thing is most important for Sarajevo. I want to be here to show people that we are not monsters, we are regular people who still believe in their own country,” said Igor Boras, who was the Croatian member of the Bosnian bobsleigh team.

The stands in Lysgårdsbakken fell silent for the second time during the closing ceremony of the XVII Winter Olympic Games. When the Olympic flame went out 40 thousand people raised torches with an inscription „Remember Sarajevo” to show solidarity with the Balkans.

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The best Winter Olympic Games ever More than 20 years ago a small town achieved the impossible. It organised the Olympic Games which the President of the IOC Juan Antonio Samaranch hailed as „The best Winter Olympic Games in history!”. But Lillehammer does not want to live in the past. „In 2016 we were the hosts of the Winter Youth Olympic Games. It was the first step for Lillehammer to host the Olympics again. Organising this prestigious event once again is the topic constantly talked about here”.

Nowadays the biggest obstacle in the race to hosting the Olympics is the luck of infrastructure and citizens’ negative attitude. For Lillehammer neither of the issues mentioned above are problems. „The last time when Oslo put forward its nomination to organise the Olympics, Lillehammer was part of the plan too. Some of the sport disciplines were scheduled to take place here. There are bobsleigh tracks in Lillehammer and they are the only ones in the whole Scandinavia. Building such a facility in a new place is very hard due the natural environment. That is why regardless whether

issue no 06 | November 2017

Lillehammer

the Olympic Games took place in Oslo or Trondheim bobsleigh competitions would always be organised here. The most important arena for speed skating is located in Hamar, a stone’s throw from Lillehammer. This place probably would be used during the Olympics because building such a facility is very costly. The Norwegians are sceptic towards the notion of hosting the Olympics due to the high cost of such an endeavour but people form Lillehammer are enthusiastic about the whole concept,” says Kuhn.

Lillehammer is not a place where the best sportsmen and sportswomen compete once in a blue moon. Every year during The World Cup the best cross country skiers compete on Birkebeineren Ski Stadium.

The ski jumping hill Lysgårdsbakken is one of the four hills used during Raw Air tournament. When the Olympics took place in Lillehammer the best hockey players in the world trained on the ice hockey rink Kristins Hall. Now the local ice hockey team hold their matches there. The ski stadium, the ice rink, the ski jumping hill and a huge Håkons Hall are the facilities where the best Norwegian skiers train every day.

“Building huge sport facilities just for one sporting event is against the sustainable

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development but Lillehammer has been doing great in this respect. All of the arenas built for the Winter Olympics 1994 have been used daily,” points out our guide.

It was brilliant There is no a better place than Lillehammer if you want to feel the atmosphere of the Winter Olympic Games. Over here, the Olympics are more than just a sport, ski jumping hill and slopes. More than 20 years have passed since Lillehammer hosted the Olympics but the memory of that time is still very much alive. The characteristic five Olympic rings can be found everywhere; from a bar in city centre and a hospital to government offices.

Frank Tagliano, who was mentioned in the introduction, is a main character of a Norwegian-American TV series „Lilyhammer”. The story takes place in the town which hosted the Olympics. The former mafia member moved to Norway as a crown witness. Why does the New Yorker choose Lillehammer to be his new home? „Haven’t you seen the Olympics 1994?! They were brilliant! Clear air, fresh and white snow!”. It’s not hard to believe. Lillehammer is as magical now as it was over 20 years ago.

When Noriaki Kasai won his first Olympic medal on Lysgårdsbakken, Robert Johansson, who was born in Lillehammer, was only 4 years old. And now, both of them are preparing for the XXIII Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Maybe it is high time Lillehammer proved to the rest of the world that size does not matter and that the town is ready to organise the best Olympics in history again. 



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interview: Martyna Ostrowska photos: Przemyslaw Wardega

Champion supporter friend He’s always kind, always smiling and you can’t help liking him. Stefan Kraft is a guy for all seasons. Supporter of Bayern Munich and a big fan of Robert Lewandowski’s talent. He infatuated multitudes and also...

Adam Malysz’s wife.

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How does it feel to be among five athletes who won double World Championship title?

the person who I have always looked up to was. This is amazing.

– It’s really hard to describe this incredible feeling. When the season has finished I told myself that the statistic isn’t so important. These are only numbers.

It’s nice to be part of the history, but it has never been my goal. I was just happy that I was on top. Few months later I finally realized what really happened. It’s really special to hit the same jackpot as Adam Malysz, one of the best ski jumpers and my big idol. When it all came to an end I noticed that this victory made me a part of the same history of which

You were really successful in Lahti, then you won Raw Air and in the end you were overall World Cup winner.

Sounds impressive...

– It is truly fascinating that I managed to win all of these titles. It was such a perfect season for me. Everything worked just fine, except the Four Hills Tournament during which I got sick. Anyway in the end I was really happy with all the things that happened. It sounds pretty good for me. I’m 24 and I have nearly all of the titles in my discipline. It’s unbelievable.

issue no 06 | November 2017

Stefan Kraft

You are still a young athlete. What are your next goals?

– I think I won’t be original. The first one is of course to perform on the highest level during the Winter Olympics Games in Korea. This is one of my biggest aims right now. In Sochi I was the fifth man in our team so I didn’t have a chance to show my skills in the competition. It was a little bit disappointing.

Now I’m in the best age, shape is up-and-coming so I wish I could win a medal there. It’s a big achievement for every sportsman to become an Olympic Champion. I will try to do my best

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in Pyeongchang. Hopefully that will be enough for the medal.

The level seems to be pretty high especially before Winter Olympic Games. Have you changed a lot in your training?

– I haven’t changed much actually. My preparations paid off last season so I didn’t want to modify a lot. It doesn’t mean that we don’t try to develop our training methods. We always look for some innovations in technique and new ways of training. During the summer we did yoga, alternative fitness training and

also some kind of athletics exercises.

We tried a lot of new things. I think it’s valuable because every new idea which comes to our training can turn out good next weeks. In September and October our sessions looked quite similar to last years. We had to do the same practice in the gym and on the hill to prepare the best shape before winter starts.

You have already achieved a lot.

What motivates you?

– I haven’t won the medal at the Ski Flying World Championships. I still have great ambitions to achieve this. The

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Olympic Games are a big motivation for me to work hard as well. I would also try to defend my title and win overall World Cup second time in a row. Peter Prevc and Severin Freund were jumping enormously good at their best seasons but afterwards they were struggling a little bit during the next winter. I mean it is a tough task to be on the same high level all the time. I would like to make the next season really good for me. Maybe I will be the first one who will manage to do this. I still have goals and this is why I had to reject a lot of media questions and meetings. I had to train and focus on the next season. It is only possible when you can concentrate 100% on sport and what you are doing.

It’s not a secret that you are a really good friend of Michael Hayboeck. This is not really common situation in sport.

– I think this the best thing that could ever happen to us. We spend a lot of time together. From mid-November till the

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end of March we travel, stay at one hotel room and train together. In this situation the best thing you can get is to have someone that you can not only travel around the world with but also talk about everything and have fun. It is quite boring to stay at hotels all the time so when you have great company to spend time with it’s amazing. We can make jokes together and we can both improve thanks to that. I have learnt a lot from him and I think he has done the same with me.

Let’s imagine a situation that you had a great day at the hill, you made it to the podium and your friend wasn’t so successful. You come back to the hotel and...

– It happens sometimes. Ski jumping is undoubtedly an individual sport. Two years ago Michael was doing better than me, last season I was more successful.

The best situation would be if we both jumped good but of course it is not so simple. Last winter I won when Michael

didn’t have a good competition, he was still able to be happy because of my results. I think this is what real friendship is about. I always know that we keep each other back. We support each other in good times but we also do it when something goes wrong. There are no in-betweens. We always check the videos after the competitions and try to help each other to deal with the mistakes. I guess this also makes our friendship stronger.

You were both attending Schigymnasium Stams but not in the same school year. How did it happen that you meet each other and become friends?

– We were in the same Continental Cup team for quite a long time. It was the first time when we spend more time together.

The friendship has started when we joined JumpandReach. Michael told me that he found a management group and they want to work with me as well. I was talking to him about how JaR works and

nr 06 | listopad 2017

Last winter I won when Michael didn't have a good competition, he was still able to be happy because of my results. I think this is what real friendship is about. I always know that we keep each other back. We support each other in good times but we also do it when something goes wrong. There are no in-betweens.

– That’s true we talk a lot about it and watch football together. We also make some jokes about it. This summer we were playing in a football game between our hometown teams and that was really pleasant. It is our big passion. We always play football during our warm-ups before the trainings or competitions.

You have met Robert Lewandowski in Oberstdorf during the ski flying competitions. How was it?

he encouraged me to join them. I think it was the moment because then we went to our former national team coach Alexander Pointner and asked him if we can share the room on every training camp and during the World Cup weekends. We were in the same group, we were almost the same age so it was just natural that our relationship became tighter. Now we are real friends not only during ski jumping events but also in our spare time.

You spend a lot of time together – trainings, World Cup competitions, events but also private life. Aren’t you sometimes fed up with each other?

– Yes, always in April (laugh). Then we definitely need a break.

You both like football. Michael is a Barcelona fan and you support Bayern Munich. Do you talk and argue about football a lot?

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– That was really great! I was wondering if he is really standing next to me after my second jump. He is the best offensive player in the world right now. Hopefully I will have a chance to meet him and talk to him really soon.

You are a busy person, especially after such a great winter season. But when you finally have some time what do you prefer to do? I bet dancing...

– Dancing? (laugh). I like dancing but it doesn’t happen so often. When we go out with friends I like dancing and have some fun.

The best thing for me is to spend my free time with family and friends. We like bowling. There is a great disco-bowling place in Salzburg so sometimes you can meet me there. I don’t really have a lot of time for my relatives so when I finally get some I prefer spending it with them. It is very important.

I have heard a story that once you sent a card with your autograph to Adam Malysz’s wife, Izabela.

– It’s true. All the fan letters come to my mother and usually she sends them back.

Once she showed me that I got a letter

from Izabela Malysz. Wow, it was really great because Adam is one of my idols, but I have met him so many times at the ski jumping hills that he could have just asked for it (laugh).

You said that he was one of your idols. How does it feel to own the record on his hill in Wisła?

– It is something really special for me.

Adam Malysz, Noriaki Kasai, Janne Ahonen – these three athletes are always on my mind when I hear ski jumping.

They are really good athletes but also great people. Now when Adam comes to me after the competition and congratulates me I appreciate that. It means a lot.

Jumping in the same competition with Noriaki is also a pleasure and an honour.

Can you imagine to be an idol for someone?

– I really hope that I am. I have heard that my personality is good for other people. I try to be open and helpful, smart and easy to handle. I want to have fun with sport and I really appreciate if another sportsman wants to ask me something. Of course I want to be an idol for the younger ones.

Can you imagine yourself jumping as long as Noriaki Kasai?

– No! (laugh) I don’t think I would be able to do that. I want to have a family in the future and spend time with them. It is not really common to jump at the age of 44...

I think 30-35 is enough for a ski jumper. 

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photos: Maria Grzywa / JumpandReach

friends

S tefan K r

Hard question but we were both in the army.

They were really strict so I think we are almost always on time.

Wh

is alw

I think it is me. I like to sleep a little bit longer because Michi is older and he can't sleep so long (laugh).

likes

Firstly I was making more jokes. I was the funnier one.

Michael was trying to do his best. He's good right now. I think that during past few years that we spent together he caught up and learnt a little bit from me (laugh).

I would say that I am a better dancer. I also took dance classes but I don't think you will see me in Dancing Stars TV Show. I really like to do this but only when it is a party and just for fun.

is th

I bet I cook better but I’ve never invited him for a dinner and he has done it three times. He’s really good at it. Now I have to invite him as well! Maybe we can even make a competition!

When we drive somewhere to a training or competitions, Michael is always the driver. He really likes driving and for me it is really comfortable to be a passenger. Before Four Hills we had ice-drafting competition with one of the sponsors. That was the only time I was better.

We are both the best in the Austrian team (laugh). It's really difficult to say. When we compete on Playstation he is definitely better but on the pitch it is nearly the same.

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issue no 06 | November 2017

is b dr

Stefan Kraft and Michael Hayboeck

aft and M ichael H ay boeck

ho: I think we are rather both on time.

lways late:

s to sleep long:

makes jokes all the time:

the best dancer:

cooks better:

better river:

Stefan likes to sleep longer because he is a little bit younger. I, as the older one, don't need that much sleep anymore. Maybe that means that I complain a little bit more than Stefan (laugh).

It's me! He really said he’s better at this?!

It depends what kind of dance it is. When we are at the party and it’s time for some freestyle dancing, he is better.

He's a better cook for sure!

I would say me because every time we drive somewhere together I am the driver. Most of the time Stefan wants me to drive so I think I am the better one.

Is a better football player: Hill Size Magazine

I think we are both good football players, the best in our team, but between us two I would say I am the better one at this sport.

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Football. I started with football as a child. When I was 11 I tried ski jumping and it was so much fun that I decided to stay with it. The adrenaline and the feeling was awesome.

We had a great group and I had good friends there.

Andi Wellinger. He's a really cool and smart guy.

He's funny and we get along well right now.

1) I

2) Best ski ju out of the A

David Alaba. I have met him several times.

He's a really cool guy.

3) Favor

4) World C or Oly

Both.

Planica! It is a special place and it has great atmosphere. At the end of the season everything is nicer and easier. Ski flying is what I love the most. In Planicaeven if you jump bad you can reach more than 100 meters. That's amazing.

Adam Malysz

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issue no 06 | November 2017

6) Chi

Stefan Kraft i Michael Hayboeck

If not ski jumping then...

umping friend Austrian team:

Then playing golf or maybe football.

I think some of the guys from Norwegian team.

During summer we met and played golf together and it’s always a lot of fun. They are really friendly.

We don';t gather often but when we do it is great.

vorite footballer:

Championships ympic Games:

5) Favorite ski jumping hill:

ildhood idol:

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Since I am a big fan of Barcelona, it has to be Messi.

Olympic Games.

Planica and then Bischofshofen because it is my home hill in the World Cup. I really like to compete there because there are always a lot of spectators and they are very supportive.

Andi Goldberger

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interview and photo: Aneta Biedron translated by: Hetty Hu and Ewelina Wojcik

Never say never Spela Rogelj is one of the most recognizable Slovenian ski jumpers.

Nice and always smiling. But she can also get pretty irritated and then, as she admits herself, no one should approach her. She was brought up in a sports family but only her determination and persistence caused that we can watch the dainty blonde in the World Cup competitions.

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What do you think about your performance at the beginning of the season?

Could you tell us what type of skis have you chosen?

– I’m pretty satisfied. We’ve changed some details in my inrun position and so far it works out well. I was happy with my results in Courchevel, especially since that hill isn’t one of my favourites.

I can say we are making progress.

– I will switch to Fisher skis. I’ve already tried them out during the summer season, in Courchevel and Frenstat.

Did you change something in your training routine?

– It was hard to come back to the gym in April and start doing your power training all over again. We love being outside, so working out while being locked inside is pretty hard. But if you set your goal and work hard towards it, it makes it easier to endure. Anyway, I like power training a lot, probably because I’m used to working hard. As for me, I don’t like to jump in the summer, it’s definitely not my favourite thing to do during this season.

I prefer winter.

– No, actually the programme is pretty much the same as it was in previous years. Right now I have more of mental training for sure, I’m working on my „head”. When I train on a hill, I try to calm myself down and focus on all possibilities that await me. I try to think about my technique, about what can be improved and what I can do better next time.

Do you find your training tiring or difficult? Are there any elements that you like or dislike?

How far form your top shape are you?

The Winter Olympic Games are coming...

Why did you choose ski jumping?

– Pyeongchang is my main goal! During training, I’m trying new things. We’re testing new types of skis and suits. I want to be fully prepared for the winter. Right now my performance is on a pretty high level. We’ll see what happens from now on, I feel pretty good, although I still see some room for improvement.

– My father was a ski jumper. We were watching a lot of competitions and also I saw girls jumping in Planica. That’s when I told my father I’d like to do it too. At the beginning, he was against it.

After we were born he claimed that his kids will never jump, because it’s too difficult. I responded „Never say never!”

issue no 06 | November 2017

Spela Rogelj and together with my brother we’ve been nagging him for a month. We really wanted to try. Since then, I’m jumping and I’m enjoying it!

Is your brother still training?

– No, he quit. But one of my cousins jumps.

Is it possible that one day, Rogelj family will be like Prevc family is now?

– I don’t know! (laughs) My cousin is not that good right now, but he already tried jumping on a ski flying hill, so maybe he will find the strength to push himself even harder and improve more. It’s my dream that both of us would compete in the World Cup. Which of the ski jumping or ski flying hills is your favourite? Is it Lillehammer, where you’ve won in 2014?

– No, not really! I like the village there, but not necessarily the hill. I like old styled hills. I like the one in Frenstat. But all in all, I don’t have my favourite one.

Is a medal in PyoengChnag possible for you?

– The Olympic Games are my main goal, but it’s hard to say what will happen in the winter. I also want to be back on the podium, I know I can to it. I just need to keep pushing hard, listen to my coaches and do what I feel is the best for me.

Girls don’t have as many competitions as boys do. What do you think about the current situation in ladies ski jumping?

– We’re on a good way to improve. Girls are working very hard and every year it’s getting harder to get to the podium. The number of competitors is increasing too, each season new girls are joining. It’s on a really high level. The sport has developed a lot. I can see it, from the beginnings of the World Cup until now. We have made

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We were watching a lot of competitions and also I saw girls jumping in Planica.

That’s when I told my father I’d like to do it too. At the beginning, he was against it (…) together with my brother we’ve been nagging him for a month. We really wanted to try. Since then, I’m jumping and I’m enjoying it! huge progress and became more interesting for sponsors. But I’d like us to have more jumpers appearing in the Olympics and also more team events in the future.

The first one will take place this year so we’ll see how we can manage it.

Do you think that FIS will increase the number of ladies competitions scheduled for the season in the future?

– Yes, I think we will get more competitions. We just need to take it easy. For us, all of this is going slowly, but I believe that in few years time we will have more competitions, also on big hills, and maybe even some ski flying events! You never know.

If you could, what would you change in the calendar?

– I’d have more competitions! I wish we had more team events, as we have a really strong group and it’s another for us to achieve good results.

You are very active on social media, you interact a lot with your fans.

– I do post a lot on my page. Or if I don’t have much time, my sister does it instead. Sometimes she also answers to the messages, but she always tells me everything, so I know what’s going on.

In my opinion, it’s important to have a good relationship with your fans. We’re all normal people with ordinary lives.

We’re not just ski jumpers. What’s important for me is that we’re just human beings. We’re not some robots, just jumping and not even smiling to anyone.

I want to make it simple and be myself.

So who is Spela Rogelj outside ski jumping?

– I’m pretty much the same! I love spending time with my family and dog. I just spend time at home, because usually I’m away, so I try to relax a bit. Most of the time I’m in a good mood, but if I’m not, it’s better to stay away! (laugh). Family is everything to me. In the summer I play beach volleyball a lot. I cycle sometimes, but not too often as my coach forbids me to do it. In fact, I don’t have too much free time for my hobbies.

Have you already thought about the future after you finish your career?

– Actually, I ask myself that question quite often. I don’t know. For sure I don’t want to be a coach, it’s not my passion.

I’d like to help younger girls. Probably I’ll be working for my father’s company.

I already help there a little bit, but not as much as my father would like me to.

If you had one wish that could come true, what would it be?

– That’s a hard question! But I guess I would wish for winning the overall standings in the World Cup!

And more ski flying?

– Yes, but it has to be preceded by training on big hills more frequently.

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photos: Maria Grzywa

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summer grand prix photostory

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photos: Martyna Ostrowska

ski jumpers and

HSM

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#StayStrongKenneth Hill Size Magazine

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ODJAZD

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issue no 06 | November 2017