He is currently third in the overall ranking, in Lillehammer last weekend he achieved the best result of his career so far as second. 21-year-old Italian Alessandro Pittin started the season without specific goals and achieved good results in the first competition. Not think to much about it, just enjoy it and keep on working, that's his motto.
Alessandro, first of all congratulations on your podium result last Saturday. You moved to second after being 29th in jumping. How did you pace yourself?
Pittin: The jump wasn't as good as I expected, even if I wasn't too far behind the first. I had a problem with my boot and I couldn't change it anymore. I was a bit unsure if jumping would work with this boot. So this jump wasn't as good as the ones in training. In the race I wanted to keep up with Magnus Moan and get as close as possible to the first. During the last two laps my skis got faster and faster and in the last part of the race I was faster than the competition and could save some energy for the final. On the steepest climb I tried to break away and got closer to the three leaders. But on the final straight I wasn't strong enough to beat Klementsen.
The conditions this weekend were often difficult. On Saturday the jumping was cancelled, then there was heavy snowfall during the race. How could you handle that?
Pittin: In the first competitions we weren't very lucky with the conditions and in both cases the jury had to decide that the provisional competition round counts. We are definitely used to such conditions during our competitions, including the change of the schedule in the last moment. In such situations you have to stay calm and concentrated. The atmosphere in the team is very imporant and we get along great in our team. That helps in these cases.
With a second and a tenth place, Lillehammer was a successful weekend for you. How do you see that?
Pittin: I travelled to the first competitions in Scandinavia without big expectations. Right from the start I achieved good results. In the first competition in Lillehammer I even achieved a career-best. This means a lot to me, especially because I achieved these results without having really good jumps.
The next competition will be the World Cup in Ramsau in Austria. From your point of view, what makes this place special?
Pittin: I was on the podium for the first time in Ramsau 2009. Last year I had my best jump there in the second competition and if I wouldn't have had problems with the equipment in the race I might have also finished in the Top 3. I can do well on that facility and I also really like the cross country course.
Did your goals for next weekend change after the good results in Lillehammer? What do you expect from Ramsau and the rest of the season?
Pittin: This year I travel to Ramsau as third in the overall ranking and that's why I don't want to do too much. It's my favorite hill and I hope that I can show good jumps there. I still have some goals this season and maybe I can achieve one of them in Ramsau. I don't want to think about the rest of the season yet. I just try to give my best in every competition. But for sure I have to get more consistent in jumping.
How did you experience the World Cup premiere of the Penalty Race? What are the advantages and disadvantages in your opinion?
Pittin: Concerning the TV I can hardly say anything about it because I haven't seen much so far. As an athlete I'm optimistic, because our sport needs changes and so this new format can be positive. But there still have to be some improvements. For example it would be good if the jumping could take place under equal conditions for all the athletes, that was not the case in Lillehammer. In my opinion the wind- and gate-factor shall also apply for this format. And I'm convinced that the Penalty Race shall only be held on normal hills. And it's also important to explain the race to the viewers on TV clearly and comprehensibly.
Mariele Stockinger/Silke Tegethof