1997 | 25 YEARS AGO
Photo: Lasse Kjus in front of his own fan club. Photo Morten Bakke.
Good news from Kjus and a financial blow
This was going to be the best year ever for Lasse Kjus, both as an athlete and a showman. And to put it this way: Kjus brought good news to Kvitfjell.
By Stein B. Olsen and Svein Mundal
The atmosphere was magnificent when Kjuser’n swooped in at the best time in the Downhill on Saturday. Lasse was fastest at every intermediate time and kept it up all the way to the finish line. And the audience was excited, not least Lasse’s own fan club, who celebrated him with great enthusiasm in the finish area. The weather was problematic this Saturday, and after 30 racers the race had to be stopped, and finally cancelled. A huge let down for Kjuser’n, who plodded sullenly away from the finish area.
At the team captains’ meeting in the afternoon, a decision was made to organize both the Downhill and the Super-G on the following Sunday. No one can control the weather, said Kjuser’n, but of course he had a plan. And in the Downhill on Sunday, he was the best once again. Admittedly not quite as superior as the day before, but with the necessary 14 hundredths on his side.
- This was just wonderful. The race started so early in the morning that I didn’t feel completely awake as I started. But at the same time, I was incredibly ready. And it is always fun to compete on my home ground, Lasse commented.
The day turned out to be challenging and exhausting for all, especially the organizers. Not long after the Downhill ended, Super-G was on the program. Lasse followed up with a third place and became the man of the day.
- Two races on one day is a lot, but it went ok. I was able to eat and rest between the races. And two podiums in the World Cup in Kvitfjell on the same day is not bad. Josef Strobl won the Super-G on Sunday.
This weekend was tough, and it would not have been possible without the fantastic efforts of all our race volunteers, said the chief of race Svein Mundal.
But: in the summer of 1997 the 6 alpine clubs in the organizing company Alpinalliansen were forced to throw in the towel. A huge economic deficit was the reality. In the autumn of 1997, a new company with a stock capital of NOK 820 000 was established: Hafjell-Kvitfjell Alpin AS. The stockholders were: Ringebu Commune, Øyer Commune, Lillehammer Commune, Kvitfjell Alpine Resort, Hafjell Alpine Centre, Oppland County, the Norwegian Ski Association and Oppland Ski Ski Association.
RESULTS:
DH: Lasse Kjus (NOR)Pietro Vitaline (ITA) Ed Podivinsky (CAN)
SG: Josef Strobl (AUT) Andreas Schifferer (AUT) Lasse Kjus (NOR)
