Svindal says there’s a chance to return this season

So, you’re saying there’s a chance?

Aksel Lund Svindal has mostly been out of the public eye since sustaining a torn achilles tendon in October one week before the season-opener. In Kitzbuehel last weekend, Svindal was on hand to cheer on teammate Kjetil Jansrud, participate in a the KitzCharity Trophy event and perhaps acclimate to the barrage of media that follows the White Circus. Ski Racing had a chance to fire some questions his way.

Ski Racing: We saw you got back on skis last week. Can you give us an update on your progress?

Svindal: I just got back on skis, so I would say the first days were very far away from where I needed to be — not even close. The good news is there is progress every day. I’m back on skis ahead of the predicted schedule. I got to be happy with that, and we’ll see what happens.

SR: Any chance of racing this season? How about World Champs?

Svindal: Yeah, there’s a chance, a decent chance, not a big chance. Hopefully things will go my way. That’s the goal, to get back as soon as possible.

SR: In your absence, Jansrud has really stepped up. How great is that for Norway and what do you think about his skiing right now?

Svindal: It’s obviously great for the team. But it’s kind of hard to watch because being a part of a team that is having success and there are a lot of good days on the hill, that’s a lot of fun. It’s too bad not to be a part of it right now. That’s the way it is, but obviously super happy for the team. We’re on the same skis, share the same equipment and the same technician. They’re the fastest skis in the world right now. It makes me confident to come back.

SR: How do you think you’d be stacking up with Jansrud this season?

Svindal: I know we were neck and neck in training all the way up to when the season started, so it would have been interesting. But obviously he’s skiing fast, so he would have been a hard guys to beat.

SR: How do you feel about them shortening the Hahnenkamm downhill to 58 seconds?

Svindal: We’re outside. We’re in the mountains. The weather is always going to be a part of it. That’s just how it goes and it’s a lot better than having the race canceled.