Fast-rising Grange likes how he looks in leader's bib

France’s Jean-Baptiste Grange, celebrating a total of four victories in December and January a few weeks after clinching his first World Cup podium in Beaver Creek’s super combined, has made a dramatic rise up the ranks of technical skiers on the World Cup circuit.
     After his initial triumph Dec. 17 at Alta Badia, where he clocked the best time in both runs, the 23-year-old from Valloire went on to win the slalom races at Wengen and Kitzbühel, a rare achievement in the history of the sport. At Wengen, he also captured a super combi – a performance that no French skier has accomplished since Michel Vion did so in 1985.
FRANCE'S JEAN-BAPTISTE GRANGE, celebrating a total of four victories in December and January a few weeks after clinching his first World Cup podium in Beaver Creek’s super combined, has made a dramatic rise up the ranks of technical skiers on the World Cup circuit.
     After his initial triumph Dec. 17 at Alta Badia, where he clocked the best time in both runs, the 23-year-old from Valloire went on to win the slalom races at Wengen and Kitzbühel, a rare achievement in the history of the sport. At Wengen, he also captured a super combi – a performance that no French skier has accomplished since 1985, when Michel Vion, combined World Champion in 1982 and now a member of the FIS Council, gained the famous Lauberhorn combined.
 
Patrick Lang: Jean-Baptiste, how do you explain your sudden level of excellence and your series of outstanding performances this winter?
Jean-Baptiste Grange: “It’s the logical result of the intense work I have invested in my training and racing in past years. I also gained a lot of confidence and experience during the 2006-07 season in fighting several times for a podium finish on the World Cup tour and this wonderful bronze medal at Are.   
    “This surely was a milestone performance, there was so much expectation from the French team before that last race, I had to deliver something special to get a medal and I did it. I was really proud of my performance in the second leg.
    “My slalom run in Beaver Creek’s super combined was pretty amazing. Too. I never skied so well and so fast despite the difficult course conditions. I started way behind the other favorites after my bad downhill run so I had to take a lot of risks. It was very exciting to move at my limits and to finally get that podium afterward. At that point I knew I was ready to win a slalom – which I did at the next opportunity in Alta Badia.
    “I felt relieved after that success and ready to fight even harder afterward. Things became suddenly easier, I could really go for it in Wengen and Kitzbühel. I was sick at Adelboden, which was too bad because I was skiing for the first time with the leader’s red bib.”
 
PL: You seemed to be pretty relaxed prior your races and Bode Miller told the press in Wengen that your technique is extremely straight and precise. How can you describe yourself?
JBG: “It’s true that I am very quiet and not too nervous before the start. I was very pleased to hear Bode’s comment the other day at Wengen. I respect him a lot and as so many other racers, he has inspired me a lot when I was younger.
    “Ski racing is my passion, my parents were also competing in the 1970’s and I have the chance to live in a beautiful resort with demanding slopes which are perfect to become a good skier.
    “I like to practice all kinds of sports for fun and I enjoy walking around the mountains when I go out hunting with my dad.
    “I’m truly found of precision – it’s almost an obsession and it helped me to improve my technique. When I was younger, I skied all specialties before focusing on slalom, but now I aim to improve my level in giant slalom and to become a solid super combined specialist. I guess I’ll never be a very efficient glider but I surely can raise my potential in downhill. I would appreciate ending the overall World Cup standings among the top 10 this winter.”
 
PL: So what are you coming goals this winter?
JBG: “I’ll fight hard to defend my red bib in the slalom standings and compete for the combined title until Val d’Isère. It’s a major goal for a specialist and no French racer could win it for a long time. I’m a little surprised to be already battling for that crystal globe two years only after reaching my first top-10 place in a World Cup race.
    “There are still a lot of races on the calendar and it will be important to remain focused and aggressive until the last race. Last year I had a strong finish after getting that bronze medal at Are, so I’m pretty optimistic. The most important will be to remain relaxed and determined.”
 
PL: How fun is it to compete in Chamonix in front of thousands of spectators and fans?
JBG: “It was great, I struggled a little in the super combined downhill in the morning but I skied pretty aggressively and fast later on in the slalom leg. The crowd seemed to be happy with the performances of the French team with Julien Lizeroux finishing fifth just ahead of me.
    “I took part in my first-ever World Cup slalom here in January 2004 but my first run didn’t last long – not more than 20 seconds all in all. I also entered the super combined in 2006 but I was far behind in the downhill and didn’t finish the slalom leg. The downhill course doesn’t really favor my style.
    “I was happy to see that so many people showed up, it’s important to see that ski racing can attract a lot of fans with the next World Championships coming up next year at Val d’Isère. I hope some of them will also come there next week to support us.”