Picabo Street Interview »
Getting Back on Course

The reigning super G Olympic Champion has been plagued by injuries, the worst of which she suffered in her last crash, in March 1998 in the downhill race at Crans Montana, which kept her out of competition for two full seasons — a long time for any athlete in any sport. Street continues to struggle with regaining her momentum as she sets her sights on the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Manuèle Lang:
Tell us more about your season start?

Picabo Street:
"It has been a difficult road. I thought I had my strength back, I thought I was in a good place. I was training well in November, I spent a nice Thanksgiving with my family and I had good training at home in Park City. Then I returned to the World Cup and it has been really crazy.

"...going to the hospital and having surgery isn't something that is difficult for me anymore. It's coming back from them that's difficult..."

"There have been a lot of different feelings: some good, when I meet old friends, and some difficult, on my skis, and results which aren't so great for me, but I've realized what time it is and it's time for me to keep working... and working hard.

"The reason I came back is to go to Salt Lake. I thought I would be stronger in the beginning of the season, but I have a lot to learn, a lot of things to change before I can be fast in the World Cup again."

Manuèle:
How is it for you coming back and getting all these instructions and not knowing how to deal with them?

Picabo Street:
"The are a lot of instructions, a lot of emotions, a lot of input from my coaches and from everybody, everyday. And I'm working, working, working and it makes me tired. Everyday I try to do what they are asking me to do, and to do what I'm supposed to do in order to be fast. Some days are easier than others, but everyday seems to be really hard for me right now. I think it's just something that I have to go through in my life. I chose it, I chose to come back, so I have to choose to do everything that I need to do in order to make the comeback worth it."

Manuèle:
But sometimes when you are in this kind of situation, you lose yourself and your reason for coming back.

Picabo Street:
"I had a long conversation with Pernilla Wiberg after the race and we finished the conversation crying and hugging each other, because we ask each other why we are coming back and today we both thought that maybe it wasn't good."

Manuèle:
So what is the point now?

Picabo Street:
"A lot of people have asked me what the point of coming back is. I think there are two points for me: one, I want control of myself in skiing; I want control of myself on a downhill course, or on a super G course, or just freeskiing — skiing in the powder, skiing in a crowd, skiing for fun. I want to be happy there again and I know that if I work hard I can be."

And the other thing is the Olympics in Salt Lake. I really don't want to watch the Olympics in my own country, I want to participate; I want to carry the flag in the opening ceremony and I want to compete. I don't even necessarily want to win, even though that is something I know, that if I qualify, it's going to be as a definite contender for a medal. It's more just to regain the control that I feel I have lost in the sport.

"I know it's hard to explain to people, and I know some people just think 'oh my God, just be careful, just be safe, 'why are you doing something so dangerous?' And 'why are you taking the risk again?' But I have calculated the risk, and going to the hospital and having surgery isn't something that is difficult for me anymore. It's coming back from them that's difficult, and I know that I'll never have to do it again. But this is the last time."

Manuèle:
Don't you think that you are destroying yourself mentally?

Picabo Street:
"You know I think sometimes when you decide to destroy yourself mentally, you put yourself in a situation where you know that possibly, for yourself, you're going to grow, you're going to get stronger, you're going to be a bigger person, you're going to be a better person. And I feel it's necessary in my growth as a person. It connects me to a lot of people. There are always difficulties, and through the difficulties is when you learn, it's when you get strong, it's when you grow and become a better person."

"And in order for me to give back to the children as much power as I can, I have to keep going as a person. And when you have an extraordinary life like mine, sometimes it's really difficult, and when it's really difficult, it's much more difficult than for 'normal' people.

"I think for me, it's important for myself, for my parents, and for the children of the next generation, to know that's it's okay to have tough times because it's going to get better, and it's okay to choose to do something that's going have this outcome. It's going to make you emotional...it's going to make you cry, it's going to make you angry, it's going to make you sad, but it's only when you're on this side of the spectrum that you get the perspective to know how great it is when you are on the other side, and when you have success, because you really feel good, you really feel like it's worth it."

Manuèle:
During the two years you have been away from us, what did you learn and what have those years brought to you?

Picabo Street:
"Being away from ski racing is actually pretty nice. Before my injuries I never thought that my life away from ski racing would be very nice, I thought it would be miserable.

"There is a lot more to life than ski racing. There are a lot of nice people out there, a lot of really friendly people, and a lot of good things to do. My family is really important to me and now I have a nephew who is 2 years old and to be an auntie to him is really fun. It teaches me a lot. I learned how to be a more compassionate person. I care about everyone now, I don't just care about myself and the people in my immediate surroundings, and I think that's important for me, growing as a person.

"Life is fun for me and I have chosen something which is fun, but in order to be fun, it has to be difficult as well. So far I think it's a good choice and I know now what will be waiting for me when I finish with skiing, and it's really nice. I'm anxious! "

Manuèle:
"So, you like what you see when you look in the mirror?

Picabo Street:
"Sometimes I really like what I see because I'm getting strong and I've grown a lot as a person, but, like everyone else, sometimes I don't like what I see. This week has been one of those weeks when I haven't really liked what I see, but I'm also asking a lot to myself. I just had a long conversation with my father and he told me to just try to be patient, try to wait, try to stay calm, and try not to let things upset me too much, because Salt Lake is the reason why I came back to skiing, and it's over a year away.

Manuèle:
I know the parents always try to say the right words, but do you agree?

Picabo Street:
"I do agree, I agree deep inside, but on the surface, being emotional, no, I think I'm losing the race for time. But the race for time is only what I've made it.

"I'm the one who said, 'okay, now this is what my timeline is.' Nobody else is putting this timeline on me. Everybody else is just letting me do what I want to do, they try to support me and I just have to remember that I'm the only one who knows what my time it is, and whether or not I'm ahead or behind.

"Right now I feel behind, but that's okay, I've been behind before and I can get in front again. And if for some reason, I cannot get in front again, and I keep trying and keep trying, and I don't accomplish it, then I know to take the message, and to walk away, and I'm not afraid to walk away. But I'm going to give everything I have first and we'll see what will happen with that.

Manuèle:
But it's even harder when it's you who has to decide.

Picabo Street:
"Sometimes it's harder when it's just me and sometimes it's easier. Right now I really like knowing that I'm the one in control. I'm the one saying, 'okay, I'm choosing to ski and when I choose to stop, I stop.' Nobody is going to say "oh wait, no you can't."

I'm in control and that makes me feel better because that's part of the reason why I'm doing this, is to have control over myself. Because when you have injuries and you are losing control of yourself physically, especially for me, a lot of other controls go away as well. And I don't want to sound like a control freak, but I like to know what I'm doing and to feel good about it. If I can win again, that will make me feel great, but if I can't win again, I know that I tried, that I gave everything I had and that's important to me because I don't want to look back and say 'what if...'"

Manuèle:
Did it change everything for you that your pals Alexandra Meissnitzer and Pernilla Wiberg were coming back the same day?

Picabo Street:

Wiberg and Street

"Pernilla is the one I think about the most. 'Meissni' and I have a kind of lost touch as friends a bit. We are still close but we don't talk as much and we don't have as much in common. I think Pernilla and I having the same doctor, having a lot of the same injuries and being the same age, having the same history of success on the World Cup, we relate to each other really well. And knowing that she fought to come back this season gives me a lot of confidence that I could fight to come back as well.

"I think that it will be very possible we will end our careers at about the same time because we seem to be on a very parallel track. I care for her and I hope that she can be happy, but right now, at this point of time, in this minute, neither one of us are very happy, and that's very difficult. But we have each other and we know that we feel the same, we send a lot of energy to one and other and it makes me feel good. It makes me feel good that somebody else is feeling what I feel."

Manuèle:
How is it to come back and find that nothing is the same? The people or yourself?

Picabo Street:
"I had a very difficult time with this yesterday actually. I went to the awards ceremony because Alison Powers, my teammate, was on the podium for the first time in her career and I though it would be important that I go and support her. And I did. And I waited for the public's pick, the draw for the race today, and I didn't have very much fun. I didn't feel like I was in the right place, I felt really uncomfortable and very out of place. Some of the faces are the same, but the expression on those faces has changed very much. It makes me sad a little bit, too. I've been away and so many things changed, and I was hoping there would be more that would be the same. They have changed and I have to accept that, and I can let it motivate me somehow, to go back in and be the familiar face."