At a press conference in Prague, Ester Ledecká confirmed that she will continue to compete on both skis and snowboards.
After having to miss almost the entire season last year due to injury, she now radiated well-being and optimism. As she herself said, after a serious injury to her collarbone, there is no trace and she is completely fit.
She was successful in summer fitness training in Greece, downhill training in Chile at the end of the summer and the recently completed snowboard camp on Passo Stelvio in Italy. Ledecká also confirmed the settlement of all previous irregularities with the Skiers’ Association of the Czech Republic.
“I’m really looking forward to the first races, which should come in mid-November in Zermatt. I was sick of everything. I wanted to race practically everywhere, even behind the wheel,” said Ledecká.
After a longer break, which she used at least for positions in marketing and communication, she would now like to fight for small crystal globes in speed disciplines on skis in addition to snowboarding. Of course, she has higher hopes in downhill, which is her stronger discipline. After Zermatt, this year he wants to compete in Sv. Morici and Val d’Isere on skis and at the end of the year in Davos on a snowboard.
In a short interview for Nauzal, Ester highly praised the new experienced Austrian serviceman Guntram “Tschunti” Mathis, who is also involved in the development of the new Kästle downhill skis, on which the Czech amphibian will now ride. At the end of last season, however, he also prepared snowboards for her, with which she took first and second place in the last races.
“He’s an incredible guy, after all he’s already worked for Bode Miller or recently for Alexis Pinturault. I have never experienced such grip on a snowboard as he prepared for me. But I also get along with him as a person, he’s easy-going. For example, he gives me advice during training: Take one less ride, be calm, you’ll take more tomorrow,” said Ledecká. She also appreciated the entire small team around her, where everything works immediately and efficiently. “After all, I was only in the third position in Atomic,” she said.
She is also looking forward to working with the wider team on Kästle skis, especially with the two-time world champion from Slovakia, Ilka Štuhecová. “Ilka was first twice on our new skis last year, and that gives me peace of mind that they will ride well for me as well,” she said.
