INTERVIEW WITH ALEX TILLEY AHEAD OF HER FIRST RACE IN SÖLDEN

After a tough year in 2019, and a disrupted and strange 2020 what lessons are you taking with you into the 2020/21 season?

I feel like I’ve learnt a lot from the past two seasons. In 2019, I fell short of my own and others’ expectations and had to bounce back from that disappointment. Last season was actually a good season for me, I made World Cup points in both GS and Slalom and broke back into the top 30 in World Cup GS. I am much more comfortable in myself, able to make decisions confidently, knowing what is best for me. I think it really showed last year that what is most important to me is that I am happy with my environment and team, and that is when I get the best out of myself. So I’ll definitely be taking that forward into the coming season.

Your first race in on the 17th of October, how’re you feeling about it?

I’m feeling good about the first race in Sölden. Obviously, things will be very different this year with no crowds and extra precautions etc. but I’m just looking forward to standing in the start gate again. I think Sölden is one of the most impressive and difficult hills on the tour so it’s always fun and a privilege to get to ski it.

Has lockdown affected your training, have you found there to be any benefits to taking some forced time off snow earlier in the summer?

Truthfully, I planned to take a bigger break than usual after last season anyway, so it actually played into my hands a little bit in that sense. Of course it has effected training in the way that I did all of my sessions at home, but I have to say I think I’ve come into the ski season in the best shape I’ve ever been in and it has really allowed me to focus in on weaknesses that I had the extra time to address. I definitely feel like I made the most of that situation.

You’ve said in the past you’re always hungry for more, what are your aims for this season?

My aims for this season are to ski my best in competitions. Last season I got very ill in November and it dragged right through to January, and we always felt like it was a balancing act of getting the best out that I could, but knowing I wasn’t 100%. There will always be hurdles like that along the way but this year I really just want to do myself justice and make the people who have stood by me proud, like Quinn Estates who will continue to be my head sponsor for the coming season.

What’s your plan moving forward?

My plan after Sölden will be to get ready for the next races in Lech and Levi. It will probably make more sense for me to stay out in Europe as much as possible this season to avoid too much travel and restrictions that come with that, so I will be making myself at home with Team Evolution and enjoying the flexibility that comes with that.

Do you have a hobby away from skiing?

I enjoy pretty much all sports, football was always a passion of mine from a young age. This year I’m taking our fantasy premier league very seriously, so I’m looking forward to winning the bragging rights from that!

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