Its been a stormy spring. I think the “silly season storm ” had its epicenter in the Swedish Mens Speed team.
Due to new thoughts & ideas in the Swedish ski federation my 2 previous coaches are no longer with me & due to me skiing with the Vikings & the Cunucks & HEAD being on the hunt for more success, my ski technician Armin is now also being transfered to another assignment (Julia Mancuso).
I´ve been working with Armin for 2 years & it hurts to to see him leave without the two of us having any real success together. We had a cuple of decent top 10 results, but the real deal was unfortunately never there. He has really been working his ass off every day & I´m sure if he keeps working like that & if Julia will get along with the new HEAD Skis , the success will be there for him!!
What about me?? Well as I said, due to me skiing with the Cunucks & the Vikinings a new perfect situation showed up for me. Me & Ben Thomsen who had a really amazing season last year with a 2:nd in DH Sochi will team up & have Gudbrand Smith-Ericsen as our skitech!
“Smitty” was working with Marco Büchel for ages & when I made my first appearances on the WC tour in 2004, I was given the privilege to ski the skis of Marco. It was more or less in these 2 years I made my self a name in the World cup. I was the young kid that was absolutely crushing it in the flats, but unfortunately I was just as slow in the turns, as on those “easy” sections! . Now almost 8 years later I have learned or at least improved my turning skills & with Smitty´s magic under my feet I hope & I think that things can turn out really good 
A lot of new stuff for next year!
*New titanium enforced leg.
*New coach Ulf Emilsson.
*New ski technician “Smitty”
*New Team with Vikings & Cunucks.
*New Ski partner Ben Thomsen.
*New Ski´s with new sidecut regulations
*New situation coming back from injury.
A lot of news & to me, the whole package kind of smells like good news!
/Hans
Way to find the positives, Hans. The lionman will roar next season, with a luxury pride.
Probably a bit sad to lose Armin, who you evidently respected a lot; but what a replacement.
And, it looks like Sweden is contributing one coach to the joint team?
I never said it before because I didn’t want you to get defensive due to national pride, but now that you have said it first I think it is ok to share what I always thought: to really shine you should be on the Canadian team. Well now that you (practically) are and that you are partnered up with the fastest rising star in DH….look out for the lionman.
Ahh, but we call them Mountain Lions or Cougars here in Canada.
P.S. Now we get to see who can eat more Tiramisu in Bormio: Lionman or Manny O.P.?
I was glad to read at the end that it all smells like good news.
?
Too bad the partnership with Armin has to end without any great accomplishments. Best of luck to Armin preparing Jules’ ski’s next year. I’ll cross my fingers that the partnership with Smitty & Thomsen will be fruitful.
Can you elaborate a little bit on the new sidecut regulations. Step forward or backward? Lot of adjustment for you to do?
Good luck, Is there actually a storm that can bring a lion man out of balance
charge it,
©bruno
Concerning the new sidecut regulations.
You only have to elaborate if there are new regulations for the DH skis. I guess we all know about the new regulations for the GS skis. And needn’t to say that I support the anti-movement.
charge it,
©bruno
Changes are both sad and enjoyable so I hope you will make the most of the enjoyable part with new team arrangements!
Wasn’t Smitty Aksel’s technician in last years?
Anyway, good luck for everyone, enjoy the preseason with your Lionman plan (I am still more than impressed with your recent schedule taking into account you had a freaking broken leg, the recovery is absolutely AMAZING)
Hans,
life goes on. I think the solution teaming up with the “Vikanucks” is just perfect for you. Both teams are strong and technically sound. There will be a ton of competition which will improvemyou skiing immensly. Also you should start skiing more GS – this will definetly improve you technical side of DH.
Cheers
Sven
I am super pumped to see how you and Ben Thomsen will do teamed up! Should be amazing for both of you!! And I don’t want to seem like a douche, but its canuck not cunuck hahaha best of luck for your recovery and next year’s racing season!
Hej!
En fråga om din “titanspik” i benet. Ska du inte ta ut den när benet har läkt ihop ?
Anledningen till att jag frågar är att min pappa hade ett öppet benbrott för några år sedan, två pipor ut med en titanspik i som följd. Hans läkare tog ut spiken efter lämplig tid (minns ej hur länge den var i) pga att risken för att fullständigt förstöra benet vid ett nytt benbrott hade varit enorm. Bryter man benet med en titanspik i får man förmodligen inte ut den!
Eller har läkare en annan åsikt nu för tiden?!
Ha de bra annars!
/Louise
Kommer att plock ut spiken efter nästa säsong. KOmmer ta ut några av “monterings skruvarna” som håller spiken fast nu i höst. Enligt läkarna i Österrike så skall det mycket till att bryta benet med spiken i, så vi får väl spänna fast säkerhets bältet och tuta och köra så länga benet är helt