An impressive comeback from JB Grange, winner at Levi!
An impressive comeback from JB Grange, winner at Levi!
Our French Jean-Baptiste Grange didn’t take too much time to find back his marks - eleven months after his injury (ligaments of the knee in the GS at Beaver Creek).
The skier from Valloire showed his talent to excel again at the top in Slalom yesterday in Levi, preceding two of the three Olympic medallists at Vancouver after two mythical runs!
With the bib n°7, which had already carried him chance on several occasions these last years, JB found the good rhythm as of the beginning of the first run in the morning where he clocked the best time. He confirmed in the afternoon signing the second best time in the second round!
The French skier, winner of 6 Slalom World Cup races, was obviously moved by this splendid comeback on the white circus.
“I really appreciated the “Marseillaise”, I felt a strong emotion, it is certainly a particular victory”.
“It is much of happiness, because there is a lot of work behind that result, I wanted to come back very strong and I gave myself the means to succeed in that. But I believe that I deserve it after all that happened to me last year. ” “I was confident while coming here because he did not so bad last month in Sölden, but in slalom, everything can happen. I immediately found my rhythm this time which was not the case in the Giant on the Austria’s stage. I was really fluid this morning and this helps me to produce a very good ski. I had a very good glide on the top. I think that I did one of my best races in slalom. ” “I unrolled then well in the second run, I did not have kind of alert, I felt extremely strong in my head, I held a good rhythm from the start to the end” still adds Jean Baptiste, who went back on the skis on June 26 in Val d’Isère.
With a kind of humour, the French leader notes that he triumphs once again in slalom after having signed the best time in the first run!
“It is an amusing tradition, but I hope to be able soon to win a slalom without being the fastest in the first round! In any case, it is a great thing for me to be back at my highest level so quickly.The things are now clear for me and the others. It is still too early to know if I am stronger than before, but it is clear that I did not completely waste my time during this forced rest.”
Some painful moments…
“It was of course painful to be in a wheel chair or to look at the races on TV last winter, and I also lived of the painful moments at the time of my rehabilitation, but it was also an enriching experience which learned me to make a point on the interesting things on myself and my sport. For sure, I had moments of doubts but now, I am happy to be there again. It is clear that in these conditions this victory has a particular savour. I took time in the finish area to enjoy thoroughly this moment of happiness.” “I do not want to fix myself a precise program for the moment, but it is clear that I also expect for good performances in Giant Slalom. I will be present at Beaver Creek, which will be certainly special for me since I injured there last year. ” “I am particularly waiting for the French stage in Val d’Isère, it is each time very special to compete in front of our supporters and there, I will be proud of being able to wear the red bib of leader. ”
After a few days of rest at home intersected with a little physical program, `JB' will flight for the United States where he will take part in some NOR-Am races before giving a progress report on his form in giant slalom at Beaver Creek. A rendez-vous not to be missed!
The skier from Valloire showed his talent to excel again at the top in Slalom yesterday in Levi, preceding two of the three Olympic medallists at Vancouver after two mythical runs!
With the bib n°7, which had already carried him chance on several occasions these last years, JB found the good rhythm as of the beginning of the first run in the morning where he clocked the best time. He confirmed in the afternoon signing the second best time in the second round!
The French skier, winner of 6 Slalom World Cup races, was obviously moved by this splendid comeback on the white circus.
“I really appreciated the “Marseillaise”, I felt a strong emotion, it is certainly a particular victory”.
“It is much of happiness, because there is a lot of work behind that result, I wanted to come back very strong and I gave myself the means to succeed in that. But I believe that I deserve it after all that happened to me last year. ” “I was confident while coming here because he did not so bad last month in Sölden, but in slalom, everything can happen. I immediately found my rhythm this time which was not the case in the Giant on the Austria’s stage. I was really fluid this morning and this helps me to produce a very good ski. I had a very good glide on the top. I think that I did one of my best races in slalom. ” “I unrolled then well in the second run, I did not have kind of alert, I felt extremely strong in my head, I held a good rhythm from the start to the end” still adds Jean Baptiste, who went back on the skis on June 26 in Val d’Isère.
With a kind of humour, the French leader notes that he triumphs once again in slalom after having signed the best time in the first run!
“It is an amusing tradition, but I hope to be able soon to win a slalom without being the fastest in the first round! In any case, it is a great thing for me to be back at my highest level so quickly.The things are now clear for me and the others. It is still too early to know if I am stronger than before, but it is clear that I did not completely waste my time during this forced rest.”
Some painful moments…
“It was of course painful to be in a wheel chair or to look at the races on TV last winter, and I also lived of the painful moments at the time of my rehabilitation, but it was also an enriching experience which learned me to make a point on the interesting things on myself and my sport. For sure, I had moments of doubts but now, I am happy to be there again. It is clear that in these conditions this victory has a particular savour. I took time in the finish area to enjoy thoroughly this moment of happiness.” “I do not want to fix myself a precise program for the moment, but it is clear that I also expect for good performances in Giant Slalom. I will be present at Beaver Creek, which will be certainly special for me since I injured there last year. ” “I am particularly waiting for the French stage in Val d’Isère, it is each time very special to compete in front of our supporters and there, I will be proud of being able to wear the red bib of leader. ”
After a few days of rest at home intersected with a little physical program, `JB' will flight for the United States where he will take part in some NOR-Am races before giving a progress report on his form in giant slalom at Beaver Creek. A rendez-vous not to be missed!
