Giorgio Rocca interview: “How to tackle the special slalom”

There is a way of understanding the mountains that does not just involve speed or the stopwatch but also the ability to read the slopes and accept the challenge. Giorgio Roccawinner of the Special slalom World Cup in 2006, he built his career right there: at the exact point where talent, instinct and mind control meet. Far from the starting gate, but still deeply linked to those values, Rocca explained his sport with the credibility of someone who has lived it to the full. The occasion was a convivial evening organized by Fidenza Village inside Lievità Pizza Gourmet. A distinct but informal, almost natural context. The former champion, shortly before, strolled through the streets of the Village, an ideal junction between style and functionality, the perfect crossing point for those preparing for a weekend on the slopes, a challenging trek or a simple regenerating escape into nature. And meanwhile he told the story, with the same clarity with which he faced a slalom. Without shortcuts, with the awareness of those who know that every trajectory, in life as in sport, must be chosen with precision: “I tried to make something extremely complex simple. Slalom is a discipline made up of sporting performance, agility and great technical ability. But beyond this there is also enormous mental work. Before and after the race many dynamics come into play: pre-start tension, tactics, the ability to maintain control to perform at the top. If not the mind was trained to simplify difficultiesit became impossible to be effective at the starting gate.”

“It mattered a lot. It is essential to know your limits and be trained not to exceed them during the descent. Self-control is fundamental: you have to interpret the course as best as possible without being carried away by instinct. In slalom, your head makes the difference.”

The 2005-2006 season was unforgettable: what triggered you to conquer five consecutive slaloms?
“It was the result of work taken to the extreme, especially from a technical point of view. The objective was clear: to win the World Cup. There was total harmony with the coach: we both knew where we wanted to arrive.”

“I was able to perform at my best because I knew I had done everything possible during the preparation phase. The sports psychologist helped me with specific exercises. However, the outcome of a race is always uncertain. Experience counts for a lot: long-lived athletes manage to repeat high-level performances precisely because they know how to manage certain situations.”

Where did the slalom World Cup victory in 2006 come from?
“I tried to be as regular as possible and, above all, I overcame my weaknesses by putting myself out there. Coach, athletic trainer, psychologist and skiman: everyone gave their all. As we got to know each other better and better, we became a real group. I understood the best method for me and I tried to propose it again over time.”

“In the following years the injuries returned and some mental insecurity resurfaced. After that season I continued to achieve good results but I was no longer able to win until 2010, when I ended my career. Sport is also this: finding a balance and defending it over time.”

Did you have to struggle to live with the memory of the 2006 Turin slalom?
“I learned that ‘tomorrow’ comes for everyone. The past is the past. Sport teaches you to find the strength to move forward. The more quickly you understand, the more the chances of success in the short-term future increase. The analysis of failure is fundamental for an athlete. Without that missed medal I would not have understood how much effort it was necessary to commit to starting again and, perhaps, I would not have become the person I am today. I reacted in a positive way, building a new career.”

“Dedication to work, motivation, the ability to convey passion to collaborators. Total commitment to achieving a specific objective. Of course, I also had to learn essential skills in a new environment: I made mistakes but I got back up again.”

How useful is risk management, typical of slalom, to you today?
“A lot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I have achieved projects that many considered impossible. My children often tell me: ‘You are a boss because you don’t give up until you have reached your goal’. And it’s true, I put my soul, heart and skills into achieving what I want.”

“As a spectator I am very proud. It is the place where I grew up as a person and as a skier. The resort has done an enormous job to present itself at its best and I also gave my contribution in the application phase. Livigno has created something that will remain in the city’s future, involving large and small entrepreneurs. It will be an important legacy.”

If you could speak to Italian athletes who are preparing for the Olympics, what advice would you give?
“To fully enjoy this opportunity, because it will never come back. To also experience the human part of the experience, feeling proud to be there. From a sporting point of view, then, you have to go all out. They will compete on home tracks, which they know and love: it is a significant advantage. The Stelvio, for men, commands respect: the one who has the most courage will win. The Olympia delle Tofane in Cortina is a track with an extraordinary history, which demands personality from women”.

“It depends on your point of view. On an emotional level it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. On a skiing level, however, it was a great disappointment. I participated in the Five Circle Games to win. I knew I could do it. At that moment I was the man to beat: my opponents were competing for second or third place. Even today if I think about it…”.