Tarja Mulari lowered the world record pace on the Albertville Olympic Slope 30 years ago.
How does it feel to travel on skis at a speed of more than 200 kilometers per hour on a slope that the word steep is far too faint to describe?
Tarja Mulari can tell.
– When you get down the road, you know it’s going to be hard. That’s exactly what you want, of course – but there’s no return back. If you don’t happen to feel good, you can’t brake and stop, he describes.
– Even the slightest wind brings a twist, and the bumps that are not even visible to the eye feel big.
At its best, Mulari crashed at a speed of nearly 220 kilometers per hour.
– It praises a bit like a missile on snow and sometimes in the air. When you are relaxed, a good fall, afterwards you think that this was like a light splash.
“Jokes pretty little”
Mulari ended up with a moderate exotic speed drop on the side of traditional alpine species by chance. Coincidence had become a severe knee injury in the mid-1980s.
– Healing was difficult and slow. Doctors said this will no longer be a race generation.
The deceleration was Kalevi Häkkinen long pioneering work and Pertti Leppälä thanks to the world championship, a thing moderately talked about in the Alpine and downhill circles in the late 1980s.
Mulari made his first experiment with Iso-Syötte.
– I took the downhill skis and went to see, he laughs.
– I noticed that this is a nice way to still be involved in alpine sports. Then the species was already with me.
At Iso-Syötte, the pace was less than a hundred kilometers per hour, unlike later that winter in La Clusaz, France.
– When we got to the right speeds, close to two hundred, then things just opened up. The species changed compared to what was experienced or even dreamed of in Finland, Mulari sums up.
– It was the pace of charm, curiosity and overcoming oneself or one’s fear. At the starting point, the jokes were pretty low.
Repetitions in Salla
The Finnish center for the sport was Salla. Of course, the alpine speeds were not reached, but more than a hundred.
– The profile was pretty good, Mulari says.
– Above all, we got a lot more repetitions and tested more easily than in Central Europe, where the arrangements with the slopes were massive.
Mulari began to succeed in international competitions almost immediately. He won silver in the spring of 1987 and dropped to ME4 214,413 the following year in Les Arcs.
– I had a long and extensive alpine background. Maybe that was my advantage on the international (downhill) slopes, Mulari says.
– I also noticed that the physical side had to be okay, which gave me tremendous self-confidence. I guess I also had some blunder.
Stable contract
Success spawned valuable cooperation agreements. Of particular importance was the Dynamic ski stable contract, which provided technical support and maintenance personnel.
– Many companies in Finland and abroad identified with my image. I guess the young woman and the pace were something exotic and new.
When the contracts allowed for professional training, Mulari tuned himself into iron fitness.
– I would have done very well in the physical tests of many other species, he grins.
– I did my job systematically in front of physics. The force had a good base from the alpine side, but it and especially the endurance had to be developed, because the races were usually held in a high and thin atmosphere.
Mulari looked forward to Albertville, the 1992 Olympics, where speed deceleration had been chosen as a show sport – until there was a setback, a bad fall. The ski cut at a speed of about 200 kilometers per hour.
– I wasn’t hurt, but that washing milllyphil was horrible. I had to work to get over it.
“Pretty impressive”
Albertville raced on the famous, real record-breaking slope of Les Arcs.
– If I were to go up there now, I’d probably think I’m here for that, Mulari smiles.
– The slope is pretty impressive.
Mulari fired a steep gutter at the ME pace.
– There was a problem with the bill. The posture started to rotate, but somewhere I found both internal and muscular strength that I got the pack piled up and dropped out.
Despite the difficulties, Mulari was overwhelming. Norway, which came in second Liss Pettersen the result was more than six kilometers per hour weaker.
– The atmosphere of the Olympics is reminiscent of Albertville. It was great to be part of a big family.
Appreciation?
The show sport is not an Olympic sport, officially.
– At least on the spot it was a sport where the others were, and I felt that my victory was appreciated, Mulari acknowledges.
– For myself, it was a big fulfillment of goals, and I do not seek the approval of others. I know what it takes to put down a slope like that and do a good job.
Finland was celebrated mainly About Toni Niemi. There were enough cues To Marjut Lukkarinen.
– I don’t think the Finns appreciated my achievement so much, Mulari thinks.
– I was the speed calculator who won the show. Did people think I was an Olympic medalist? Hardly.
The hometown of Espoo gave a painting as a gift.
– There was no cottage plot and no invitation to the Castle.
Lillehammer was at the door, two years away – but when Olympic status was not granted, Mulari stopped.
– Albertville was my main goal, Lillehammer option. I went on with my life been there done that with a mentality going forward.
Albertville’s victory did not make Tarja Mular an celebrated Olympic hero. AOP
In the field of welfare
Mulari, 56, has ended up with his family in Central Europe. He operates at Hintsa Performance, a wellness company coaching directorina and core mentorina.
– When we moved to France, I felt like I would somehow go back to my roots, Mulari explains.
– I noticed that people feel bad and take little care of themselves. I contacted Aki Hintsaan.
Mulari works especially with people in the corporate world.
– When I tell what I’ve done in my life, customers appreciate my achievements, he smiles.
– My sports career has been a big advantage for me.
At Hintsa Performance, Tarja Mulari is responsible for coaches in Central Europe and the United Kingdom, as well as coaching development. TARJA MULAR’S HOME ALBUM
Death crash on a warm-up slope
Swiss speed counter Nicolas Bochatayn the Olympic sky in Albertville ended tragically. He collided with his snow cat on the morning of the final day and died.
Bochatay was warming up for his teammate Pierre Yves-Jorandin as well as with a few Yankee counters.
Organizers report that Bochatay has fallen really hard but not on speed skis. After landing on the jump, he did not have time to dodge the snow cat in the shadows.
The finals were not canceled, but Jorand and another Swiss Roger Stump withdrew from the race.
Finnish finalist Tarja Mulari was not in the morning on the accident slope.
– Apparently the slope was closed, he recalls.
– They had lowered the heat, a bit like a rush.
Mulari only heard about Bochatay’s fate after his victory bill.
– Bronze medalist in my series at the awards ceremony (Renata Kolarova) was completely broken, Mulari says.
– The accident was completely covered by me on race day. It’s a good indication of how athlete is in a situation like that in your own bubble.