Are: Q&A with Swedish star Anja Paerson

After taking a two-week break from the World Cup tour, Anja Paerson is back and apparently ready for a series of good races in Are, Sweden, this month. During a relaxed press conference held on Friday, the skier from Tarnaby answered a few questions from the media in Are’s Main Press Center.

AFTER TAKING A two-week break from the World Cup tour, Anja Paerson is back and apparently ready for a series of good races in Are, Sweden, this month. During a relaxed press conference held on Friday, the skier from Tarnaby answered a few questions from the media in Are’s Main Press Center.

Question: How do you feel right now Anja?
Anja Paerson: I don’t really know for the moment how I feel about being here. Actually I’m a little confused. I need to have some more time to get caught by the atmosphere. I’m waiting to see the opening ceremony to be really into the World Championships. It’s easier for me when I see the thing to realize what is happening. Right now I’m just unpacking my stuff, and buying some candles. I take my time to go out and have a coffee, so I’ll be ready for two big weeks.
    I was part of the bidding committee in 2002 when Are got the worlds from FIS at Portoroz, in Slovenia, I’m proud that we made it and that the party is finally starting here. It will be a big event for our country.

Q: What have you done since Cortina d’Ampezzo?
AP: The break I made after Cortina d’Ampezzo was the best decision I could take. When I came here, we worked a lot all together. The first day, my dad fixed a few things on my boots. When I did my first turn afterward, I felt so comfortable that I almost felt home in my shoes! It was totally different to ski with the new adjustments. We had a creative meeting with my supplier as we really wanted to understand what was going wrong. We felt so right after the changes we made. I feel so positive now.

Q: What was the main problem?
AP: My boots were so aggressive that it even hurt my knee more then it should. In speed events, I tried to go back to my old ones. I had some podiums so I know that it works. After a few runs I could feel the pain in my knee. To change the boots was definitely the key.

Q:  So what’s next for you?
AP: I don’t know which kind of goals I have to set myself because I have to consider what I did on the World Cup this winter which was not particularly successful. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. Even if it’s good in training, it hasn’t shown anything on the World Cup yet this past months.
    It’s hard to say what can happen. I can have very good world champs and win a lot like I can have the same result that I had on the World Cup circuit this season. I have to only concentrate about what I am supposed to do and not have two separates thoughts in the same time. I have to focus on one essential thing.
    Right now, I’m trying to convince myself in thinking that the way I’m skiing in training is good enough for more. This year I didn’t push myself beyond the limits.

Q:  What about racing here in front of your fans?
AP: With the kind of season I had this winter, if I can win a gold medal here it would mean a lot, even more than anything else. The pressure is here, and with this crappy season, it would be a huge comeback. I’m not only talking about the results, but above all for my heart. I mostly aim to ski again with a lot of harmony and a nice flow.
    The most important after each race is to feel serene at the finish area, convinced to have given all what I had in me with a positive attitude.
    I definitely believe I can ski again the way I used to. It’s important for my whole life to trust I can be good in racing. I’m proud of what I’m doing now which wasn’t the case on the World Cup this winter, which was really hard for me.