Ester Ledecka opts to compete in FIS Alpine World Ski Championships

Due to a conflict in the competition calendars between the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships scheduled in Åre (SWE) from 4 February through 16 February and the FIS World Snowboard Championships scheduled in Park City (USA) with racing competitions from 4 February through 5 February, PyeongChang 2018 Olympic dual ski and snowboard gold medalist Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic had to choose which sport to compete in for the World Championships this winter. She has announced her decision to race at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Her best results thus far this season in Alpine competition include an eighth-place downhill finish in Cortina d'Ampezzo (ITA) and an 11th-place super-G finish in Val Gardena/Gröden (ITA). In Snowboard races, she has two World Cup parallel GS podiums with one victory and is currently ranked second in the parallel GS standings.

"I was a bit more into going skiing, but I wasn't sure about it. But as the season developed, I felt that this is a good decision. I can't really explain it, but I just feel it. I like the hill in Åre, so I'm looking forward to it and I think it's going to be nice to race there. Then I'll go back to snowboarding," Ledecka said.

Ledecka will prioritize Alpine training and competitions leading into the February contest in Sweden and then plans to return to Snowboard competition afterward.

"Now it's more about skiing until the World Championships. Maybe I will do some freeriding on the snowboard, but not racing. After Åre, we'll fly to PyeongChang for the snowboard races there."

Downhill training at the Åre 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships is just two weeks away beginning on Monday, 4 February 2019 for the ladies.