Louak Mailad is ready for a new challenge.

Luikk Maillard impressed in the second half of last season and showed great ambition. New setbacks early this winter shouldn't change the goalposts.

These images have long-lasting consequences and are not often seen in alpine ski racing. Last winter, Loïc Meillard had two, maybe even three. As for Maillard, he lost his skis while driving and the new bindings he helped develop failed him. Giant slalom training in Sölden and Adelboden and then also downhill training in Wengen. Photographs were taken by a man for whom they meant something, who made photography his second passion, and who captured moments that allowed him to take a breath, be still, and gain some distance.

“It also includes less pleasant images. They're also part of history,” Maillard said. He wasn't referring to last season's snaps. He spoke with a look of sadness on his face, taken again in late October on the Rettenbach Glacier above Sölden, when he realized his back pain was too severe to start at the World Cup and the start of World Cup winter. The photos were taken by his family, including his sister Melanie.

The accident happened while driving. On the same day, examination at the Hirslanden Clinic in Zurich revealed a tear in the disc shell between the L5 and S1 vertebrae. Maillard also said his experience twelve months ago helped him cope with his latest setback. This helped him even more, especially since this situation was new to him. So far, he has been largely spared serious physical injuries. His thin medical records indicate that his meniscal injury occurred about eight years ago.

Skiing is gone, trust is gone

Maillard also lost confidence in his skis before winter. It was a while before he was ready to drive freely again, pushing himself to his limits. Continuous questions about his self-confidence plagued him. “It makes you tired. It takes energy.” This continued into the second half of the season, when he had more success, winning two races, finishing second four times and finishing third once . The points he gained moved him to second place in the overall World Cup rankings, behind Marco Odermatt. After a period of delay, the talented man was finally able to meet his demands, including his own.

Maillard won two races last season.Image: trapezoid

Being high has pleasant side effects. They brought calm and took the pressure off Maillard's shoulders. Success brings back confidence and trust in the material. It is also reassuring that the healing of the back is progressing as expected. Maillard will not rush into anything, though, even as his confidence grows in his ability to compete in Sunday's first slalom race of the World Cup winter in Levi. Maillard thought his first swing since the injury was a good step in the right direction. “It only makes sense to start when I no longer feel any pain between goals during training,” said Romande, who traveled to Finland earlier this week.

Maillard does it day in and day out – it's how he's always done it, it's how he maintains it in his day-to-day professional life, and it's how he might compete with Odermatt for the big crystal ball. The way a duel appears to describe one's path. The Swiss center called Mailad his biggest opponent in the new season.

Maillard and Odermatt were competitors, teammates and friends.Image: what/what

Maillard ignores the possibility of stepping out of Odermatt's overly long shadow. The spotlight primarily directed at the Lower Walden native has nothing to do with him or a possible lack of recognition. “I play this sport because I want to, because I enjoy it, because I love it. That's important to me.”

Maillard also said he is focused on his individual game. One leads to the other. “If I can be at the front, it's also possible throughout the World Cup.” Yes, he is ready for the challenge. Yes, he was convinced that he could defeat Odermatt too. «As an athlete you believe in your chances. We train for this both in the summer and in the winter. Maillard doesn't value the fact that his big rival is both a teammate and a good friend. “When I first started, he was a competitor like everyone else.” “

Departure needs to wait

Like his competitor, teammate and friend Odermatt, Maillard is one of the best players in all three programs. Giant slalom, slalom and super-G are on his agenda. No changes are expected in the near future. Maillard said the decline only became a problem “when I was hitting goals in the slalom or needed a new challenge.” The goals are to win medals in discipline World Cups and major events.

These are the goals of a driver whose potential is far from exhausted, who keeps pushing himself and working hard to adapt his driving style to achieve it. “For two years I've been working on getting more directly into the door.” Maillard is willing to shed his reputation as a “pretty driver” and work more aggressively.

This change should have long-term effects. And of course captured in photos. (Standard Data Authority)

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