Stefano Gross has hung up his boots.
The words of Stephen Gross
Stefano Gross has decided to end his racing career, which began – in the World Cup – on December 22, 2008, in the slalom of’Alta Badia. Between that day and today are 12 podiums, including a stunning victory in Adelboden in January 2015. For 165 times è he has been to the gate of a World Cup race, 9 times to that of a World Cup and 3 times to that of an Olympics. An athlete who has made talent and hard work the hallmark of his achievements.
It is not è an easy farewell that of Gross: “I am quite disappointed and sorry for how è the season went – said the 38-year-old Fassa man of the Guardia di Finanza -. I expected a different treatment in the team, after so many years, and I was no longer having fun. All this made me make the decision to step aside and end my career”.
“For the’love I have for the sport, I would have done five more seasons – continued Gross -, but to work well you have to have stimuli that weren’t there anymore”.
“Having started from the bottom to get all the way to the top, with 12 podiums and a Cup victory, è what I carry with me from this long journey. I remember the day I made my Cup debut, in the slalom in Alta Badia. I came from the European Cup, I was fast on that day too, then I went out in the first run. But è a day I remember with pleasure because é for the first time I was joining the ‘big’”.
“I lived most of my career in a team of great champions – he continued -. Moelgg, Thaler, Deville, Razzoli… I had the pleasure of leaving home and going to compete for the world. Maybe è it was a matter of generation, but back then everyone thought like me, we towed each other. Results came and there was enthusiasm among the coaches. The same thing I see now in teams like Norway and Switzerland”
“To think about the future è it is still early – continues Gross -. I will make my evaluations and I am open to listen to anyone who has something interesting to propose to me”.
“I wanted to say goodbye to the team – concluded Gross -. A thank you to everyone for the work that è has been done over the years seemed to me to be due. We have had good times over time. Maybe this year we didn’t understand each other very well. I thank the Federation, the Guardia di Finanza and my sponsors who have allowed me to pursue my dream as an athlete”.
FISI President Flavio Roda wanted to thank Gross, for his long and important career. “We can only thank Stefano – said Roda – becauseé è he was one of the best slalomists of his generation and not only. He’ was and remains an example even for the younger ones, who should keep in mind that only with a lot of work you can achieve. I wish Stephen all the best for a successful future, at least as much as è was the first phase of his life on the slopes”.
