Frida Hansdotter: "Most important for the riders to compete"

The Alpine World Cup was scheduled to take place in 34 different locations in 15 different countries this season which was but due to the corona pandemic the season ended prematurely. There is a risk that the coming season will also be affected, which is why the International Ski Federation of Fis has discussed a competition program with competitions in fewer places.

Frida Hansdotter, who ended her alpine career in 2019, understands that Fis has begun to look at different options for the coming season. She thinks that the most important thing is that the riders are allowed to compete and trust that the association makes the best decision.

- There are great people who are experts in their fields, they know best. But from a rider's point of view, I hope they can compete. 365 days a year they think, eat, sleep and practice skiing and then I really hope they can compete, says Hansdotter to SVT Sport.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to fewer competitions. Swedish alpine manager Tommy Eliasson Winter highlights the risk of reduced interest in the sport as a disadvantage of the competitions being run in a smaller number of countries.

On the other hand, he believes that a change in the competition calendar can have a positive impact on the riders in the form of less load. In addition, fewer trips are good from an environmental perspective. Hansdotter is on the same line.

- Instead of traveling from Italy to Austria and back to Italy, you can instead place the competitions fairly close or even in the same place. Only the competitions are in the class they have been in before so it is the same standard then I think the most important thing is that they get to compete.

However, she remembers that she herself appreciated the different competitions.

- The great thing is also that you come back to certain places and you know that this hill looks si or so or that this hill fits that rider. There will also be some fun in the competition.

Just the fun of competing in many different types of slopes mentioned Anna Swen-Larsson as a disadvantage to the proposal when SVT talked to her last week.

- I think it is the charm that you get different character on the slopes and come to new places. But of course, if there is a solution for us to compete, it doesn't matter to me.