Homeboy Ski Blog » Kalle Palander

Storm Warning – Kalle Palander Boasts About The Best Season Ever!

Janne Niini — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:15:27 +0000

You gotta dig Kalle Palander, the Finnish number one Alpine skier and the (suprise) World Champion in slalom 1999. Whatever Kalle is up to, he is always going at the full force (was it good or bad!). He is kind of like our own Bode Miller – likes to talk straight and doesn’t respect/fear the (often rigid) institutions of sport (like FIS) too much. We have been liking the way guy skis and acts since the late nineties.

Photo Source: www.iltalehti.fi

Recovering from the injury

It also seems that Kalle is still going strong after all these years. Last season was a clear disappointment though – a fracture in shinbone (so called repetive stress injury) required an operation in the spring and Palander had to stop the season before it ended in early February. However, recovering from the injury has been going on very well and at the moment, already in August, Kalle feels like there is no worries at all for the upcoming season.

Palander states: The best season is yet to be seen

Quote and (loose) translation from the Finnish Iltasanomat interview says:

“Be warned. I have this certain feel that I am already in the very strong shape. And the going is only getting tougher from now on. I can surely say that I am more dangerous than ever before. This is going to be the best season ever for me”

That is the way to talk the talk (no need to suspect that the guy can also walk the walk!). You don’t go for chasing fourth places in the World Cup!

Kalle Palander has his own blog too!

Btw. Kalle has a nice own blog too. Check it out here. I also added this official site to our blogroll. We are going to follow the guy’s season for sure from now on. The blog has entries mostly in Finnish but some texts in English too + a few videos/interviews in English. And great pics of course.

Here a video of Kalle’s SL action. Lately he has been doing better in GS but Slalom skiing is what brought him really to the limelight. It seems like he is always very sharp when the conditions are the worst possible – loose snow, stormy and very low visibility.

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to our RSS Feed or Email Newsletter. This article was written by Janne Niini and it’s original location is in HomeboySki.Com skiing blog. For more great skiing articles, please visit HomeboySki.Com!

Manager of Kalle Palander Seriously Injured

Marko Pyhajarvi — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:25:09 +0000

Kalle Söderholm, the manager of alpine skier Kalle Palander, was injured seriously last Friday. Kalle Söderholm was skiing last Friday when he crashed and received several fractures in his chest and neck, reports Finnish newspaper Iltalehti. Kalle Söderholm is not able to move right now, but it looks like he is not paralyzed. Söderholm is going to be transfered to Töölö hospital in Helsinki, Finland today.

The accident happened in Bormio ski resort in northern Italy where the last alpine worldcup race of 2008 was held. Kalle Söderholm is responsible for marketing and co-operation deals of Finnish Alpine Ski Team. He is also known as the manager of Kalle Palander. Söderholm has also worked as a coach and physiotherapist. Kalle Söderholm lives in Helsinki, is married and has two children.

This season has been dramatic. Many accidents and even deaths have happened. Naturally HomeboySki.Com has not reported about all sad news, but we have written about the crash of Scott McArtney, the death of extreme skier Billy Poole, the sad news of Matthias Lanzinger and now the injuries of Kalle Söderholm. Hope the next season will not be such dramatic.

Sad moments are part of skiing. In 1990 the world lost one of the greatest free skiers of the time as Trevor Petersen died in Chamonix, France. In April 2006 Doug Coombs, one of the icons of the sport, lost his life in La Grave, France. Doug was skiing backcountries with his mate Chad VanderHam as they fell off a cliff.

Life goes on. We hope all the best and quick recovery for Kalle Söderholm.

For more about Kalle Palander check his blog.

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to our RSS Feed or Email Newsletter. This article was written by Marko Pyhajarvi and it’s original location is in HomeboySki.Com skiing blog. For more great skiing articles, please visit HomeboySki.Com!

Who Is Kalle Palander? – A Short Bio Of Alpine Skier Kalle Palander

Marko Pyhajarvi — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:33:36 +0000

Kalle Palander won the giant slalom race in Alta Badia in last weekend. This was not the first victory for Palander who has already won the world cup of slalom in 1999. Kalle Palander has won several races and had been in the top of alpine skiing for many years. Now, who is Kalle Palander? Well, many of you might know already, but let me tell provide you a brief introduction to alpine skier Kalle Palander.

Kalle Markus Palander was born in 1977 in Tornio in Finland, which is located in the middle of Finland. Kalle Palander is the most successful Finnish alpine skier ever and is a very well known person in Finland. Kalle’s father Jouni Palander works and has always worked as Kalle’s personal coach. Kalle Palander is married to Riina-Maija Palander with whom he has a daughter, Oda-Sofia (born in 2007). Additionally Palander has a daughter, Mathilde, born in 1999 in Norway.

Kalle Palander showed his skills in 1997 by taking 16th position in slalom in Sestriere. In Nagano’s Olympic Games in 1998 Palander took 9th position in slalom, after which his career started skyrocketing. In 1999 in Vail Palander took the first position in slalom by which Palander became the very first Finnish alpine skiing champion.

Next few years were painful for Palander. He did not reach high positions and he was forced to quit his season due to his injuries. Season 2002-2003 brought Kalle Palander back to the top. In Kitzbuhel he took the first position for long time and that brought his self-confidence back to his normal level, which is pretty high

Latest seasons have pretty good for Kalle Palander and right now he is fighting for the gold medal. Palander is getting older, as he has said himself, but right now he is still in the game and is a furious challenger. Kalle is a very good skier who is able to keep his nerves in high pressure. Kalle is known from his colorful comments and straight answers and he is seen as a very positive and open minded person. Kalle Palander is a fighter and does not give it up easily. I hope we will see this “alpine skiing rock n’ roll star” skiing for many years, but there have been rumors that Kalle might end his career soon. Well, rumors are rumors, the fact is that right now Kalle is skiing fast and might become the winner in slalom in this season!

Alpine Skiing World Cup – Kalle Palander Victorious in Alta Badia

Marko Pyhajarvi — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 23:30:04 +0000

It was a great alpine skiing world cup weekend for us here in Finland. Our own alpine skiing star, Kalle Palander, won Giant Slalom in Alta Badia in Italy. This was the third victory for Kalle Palander in Alta Badia. Although Alta Badia’s race is one of the most difficult alpine skiing races in the alpine skiing world cup, Palander has no clue what makes him victorious in this particular race. The first time Kalle Palander won in Alta Badia was in 2003 and then next one was in 2006. The most successful skier in Alta Badia is Alberto Tomba who has won this difficult race four times (1987, 1990, 1991, 194).

The second one in Alta Badia was Austrian Benjamin Raich, 0.42 seconds behind Kalle Palander, and the third one was Swiss Marc Berthod, 0.45 seconds behind Palander. For Kalle Palander this was 14th victory in the world cup, from which four are from Giant Slalom races.

Kalle Palander was truly amazed with his victory. He repeated word “unbelievable” often and was very surprised with his victory. “I cannot believe that I had velocity enough to win. I was really amazed after the finish line“, said Palander in Finnish media. Kalle Palander tried too much and made few mistakes during his run, but he was still able to win.

Ted Ligety, who leads Giant Slalom sup, was penalized for being late from getting his number, was fifth in Sunday’s race. Ligety has 235 points, Raich 212 points and Kalle Palander 200 points. Raich leads the whole cup with 241 points ahead of Kalle Palander who is in position seven.

Alpine Skiing World Cup – Opening Soon With Mens GS In Sölden

Marko Pyhajarvi — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:41:03 +0000

Winter is coming here in Finland and I am just waiting for the snow. We recently received the first snow but it melted after a few hours. We are still far from opening the ski season. Well, I just need to sit and wait. Meanwhile I listen to Billy Joel and finish my book on Jean Sibelius.

While reading and waiting for the winter to come, I must remember that the Alpine Skiing World Cup will open soon in Sölden, Austria. In just a bit more than a week, I will see guys riding down the Super G track. I am eager to see how Kalle Palander will ski. He represents my country and I wish him good luck. That’s actually what he is going to need. I don’t believe he has a chance at winning. Nonetheless, it should be Kalle’s primary goal.

As I already mentioned, the Alpine Skiing World Cup will soon open in Sölden, Austria. The second race will be held in Levi, Finland. Man, I would like to go and see it live but I am not sure if I can make it. Levi is a pretty small resort compered to those in the Alps but it seems to be big enough for slalom. After Levi the Alpine Skiing World Cup race continues in Lake Louise, Canada. It is going to be an interesting cup again, especially with the women. In my opinion, Finland has more chances in the ladies cup. Just take a look at how Tanja Poutiainen has been doing compared to the rivals.

If you are interested in following the cup, download the ladies’ race calendar and men’s race calendar to know when and where the races will be held.

Kalle Palander Preparing For The Upcoming World Cup

Marko Pyhajarvi — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:15:34 +0000

Finnish alpine skier Kalle Palander (World Champion 1999) has been training for the upcoming Alpine Skiing World Cup season. Physical tests in Finland have shown that in some areas Kalle Palander’s condition is better than expected, but in some areas the expectations have been higher. Palander has been operated on due to injury and that causes some headache, as does his age. It is a fact that his age already causes some limitations.

Kalle Palander is preparing for the Alpine Skiing World Cup opening in Sölden and he already has two camps behind him. The Finnish alpine skier has suffered from a lack of challengers, but today the Finnish alpine ski team is stronger and team mates can challenge the old world champion. Occasionally, though, Kalle Palander is still the fastest in training. Tests continue until the beginning of the World Cup and Kalle Palander’s team is looking for more speed from the skis.

Homeboy’s World of Skiing is also ready for the world cup. Only few weeks and circus will begin..