Progress and patience in Ushuaia training camp for Petra Vlhova

Oct 03, 2024·Alpine Skiing

Picture © Agence Zoom

The training camp at the Argentine resort of Ushuaia, situated on the southern tip of the South American continent, entered its second half in late September for skier Petra Vlhová. The 29-year-old athlete is diligently working each day in Tierra del Fuego, focusing on recovering from a serious knee injury and regaining the form necessary to compete on the slopes again.

As is well known, the Olympic slalom champion from Beijing 2022 injured herself during a World Cup race in Jasná, Slovakia, in January of this year, followed by knee surgery. After several months of patient rehabilitation, she has fully committed herself to returning stronger than ever before. The first reward came at the end of August, during a brief stay at the Swiss resort of Zermatt, where she stood on skis for the first time since her unfortunate fall in the Low Tatras and managed to make a few light turns.

After six months, and following an important check-up with a specialist, we planned a stay in Zermatt, where we had our first renewed contact with snow. We were more like tourists than athletes there. It was an emotional moment for Petra at first. We had really nice weather, it was great there, and looking back, I consider it a very important part of the recovery process– Mauro Pini, head coach of Niké Ski Team Petra Vlhová, in a recent interview with Sport Management Company (SMC) after one of their training sessions in Argentina

Reflecting on what he and his athlete have accomplished in recent weeks, he adds:

In the first half of September, we were in Saas-Fee, but that was during a time when many countries were experiencing very bad weather, so we only skied for one day. We had planned to ski for four or five days, during which we intended to work towards basic training routines. Then, on September 13, we moved to Ushuaia, where we will stay for almost four weeks– Mauro Pini

The stay in South America, where Petra Vlhová has trained in the past, is meeting expectations so far.

Petra is now seven months post-surgery, and everyone knows that returning to full training is the most challenging period for a professional athlete after such a long break. Sometimes it can happen faster, but other times you need more time than initially expected. We are currently exactly halfway through this process. We are happy to be here, the conditions are really great. Spring is beginning here in late September, but it still looks like winter– Mauro Pini

A new member joined the Niké Ski Team Petra Vlhová before the camp in Argentina, a medical specialist from Switzerland

We made an important decision. He is a valuable member of the team, helping Petra and us coaches as well, to monitor the condition of her knee and its response to training loads on a daily basis. Thanks to this, we can plan everything ahead much better. The check happens every morning, and we rely on the green light from the trio—doctor, physiotherapist, and Petra herself—before we head to the slopes. Without this, we don't go on the snow. The same routine applies in the afternoon after training on the hill. By sharing information with each other, we can keep the whole situation fully under control, which is extremely important– Mauro Pini

Of course, ski fans across Slovakia are mostly interested in one question: when will Petra be ready to return to the World Cup? The start is fast approaching...

We are here near Cape Horn, which is known for its unpredictable conditions. It's kind of a turning point, and it reminds me a lot of our situation. We are constantly improving and progressing, but we don’t know how much longer it will take. Maybe a week, maybe two... After Ushuaia, we will need another camp focused on physical preparation, improving her fitness. Slowly, of course, we are planning the program for October, or the first half of November. We’ll see how it goes; it's still too early to say anything about a possible first start in competitive races. For everyone on the team, and for Petra as well, one thing is certain: we want to return to the slopes and competitions only when Petra is in a form that is as close to the absolute top as possible.– Mauro Pini

Courtesy of Nike Ski Team Petra Vlhova

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