The Finnish alpine skier, Kalle Palander, who is the most successful male Finn ever to participate in the sport and who has been one of the key factors as to why alpine skiing is so popular in Finland, has not given up hope on being able to continue his career next season.
So far his most captivating achievements were the World Championship title in slalom 1999 in Vail/Beaver Creek and the Alpine skiing World Cup title in slalom in the 2002-2003 season (fourth in the overall standings).
Behind the scenes Kalle is a caring father of two children and likes to work with youngsters. Besides being the godfather of Team Kalle Palander (8 talented skiers, ages between 9 and 13) Kalle has been organizing the Kalle Palander Ski Camp with his ski team friends every spring for many years.
What his professional career is concerned, Palander has not been able to compete for more than two year. Since February of 2008, he has been plagued by a right tibial stress fracture that needed to be operated on. He still does not know if it will ever completely heal off. In May 2010, Palander turned 33, so time is no longer on his side.
The last two winters have been mentally torturing for the Finnish slalom specialist, especially also because he missed out on the Olympic Games in Vancouver. To win an Olympic gold medal was his big dream.
Palander has climbed up systematically in the rankings since spring 2001 altogether claiming victory in a World Cup slalom or giant slalom fourteen times in his career. His last win dates back to December 2007 when he won the giant slalom in Alta Badia.
Back in 1999, things did not go so well for the Finn and he skied so poorly for a couple of years that he momentarily lost all interest in slalom skiing. "It was not fun anymore, but a nightmare", Palander says about that time.
After his injury a couple years ago, he trained and returned to the World Cup last November, trying to ski fast with his injured leg only four months after having had his last surgery. He did ok but not as well as before the injury.
The x-ray of his leg at the end of May proved that things are going in the right direction. That was important for Palander, who has a reserved spot on the Finnish World Cup team for next season. It is, however, still a long way to go. "The earliest I will stand on skis again is in August", says Palander who does not just want to come back but wants to come back strong and painfree. He has no interest in skiing just at 15-30 percent but wants to finish at least in the top ten within reach of the podium.
Hermann Maier also returned to the World Cup on the top level after having suffered a terrible injury caused by a motorcycle accident. Almost no one else could have accomplished the same thing under the given circumstances.
Maier's example encourages Palander to try and attempt the same thing proving that he can achieve something seemingly impossible. "I am a passionate sportsman, but also a realist. Over the past two seasons things have gone completely wrong, so for the future all must be organized one hundred percent", Palander says.
The Finn understands that it will be tough to return to the top level in the World Cup. He is not worried about his life after skiing as he has many interests including the clothing business. His goal is to become a manager for Halti in the future.
"Surely I will continue to do sports. I will try to find new ways of helping tomorrow's top skiers, but I will not coach. It would inevitably lead to divorce because in that role you do not ever have time to be at home", Palander laughs.
Palander's plans for the coming season are high: "I do not want to miss a single Finnish slalom, also I want to become World Champion!
Kalle Palander was interviewed by journalist Kari Melartin for Halti
