The Unforgettable Journey of Team Kostelić: A Family’s Triumph in Alpine Skiing

Ante, Ivica and Janica Kostelić GEPA footage

Superb Accomplishments in Alpine Snowboarding

Exceptional achievements mark Ivica Kostelić’s profession in alpine snowboarding. He gained 26 World Cups in Slalom, Tremendous-G, Parallel, and Mixed, incomes 60 podiums. Ivica captured the 2011 total World Cup title and earned 4 different occasion globes, two in Slalom and two in Mixed. His success prolonged to the Olympics, the place he gained 4 silver medals, and the World Championships, the place he earned three medals, together with a gold within the 2003 St. Moritz Slalom.

Ivica’s sister, Janica Kostelić, retired younger in her early twenties as a result of persistent ache, however not earlier than leaving an indelible mark on the game. She gained three total and three slalom season titles, achieved 30 World Cup victories throughout all 5 disciplines, and stood on the rostrum 55 occasions. Her Olympic accolades embrace 4 gold medals, three from the Salt Lake Metropolis 2002 Olympics and one from the Torino 2006 Olympics. Janica additionally secured 5 World Championship gold medals throughout her profession.

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Early Beginnings and Household Affect

Croatian Ivica Kostelić’s journey in snowboarding started at a really younger age in an unlikely place: Macedonia. “I began snowboarding in Macedonia after I was three years outdated as a result of my dad was a handball coach there,” Ivica recollects. Nevertheless, his ski racing profession didn’t start till he joined Zagreb Ski Membership, the place his dad was a coach, at seven. “My dad took over my coaching after I was ten, and that’s when our household program began,” he says.

Ivica’s sister, Janica, joined the household program at eight regardless of initially being extra serious about tennis and handball. “She was first deemed as an entire anti-talent as a result of she was falling on a regular basis,” Ivica laughs, “however even in her first 12 months of snowboarding, she confirmed superb expertise and shortly grew to become excellent.”

Theories on Quantity and Course Setting

Ivica attributes a lot of their success to the extraordinary coaching quantity and the difficult course settings their father, Ante Kostelić, delivered. “Our coaching quantity was immense, particularly as we had been getting into FIS racing, which was 15 again then. We might prepare all day, with quick breaks, and the quantity was out of this world,” Ivica explains. This excessive coaching quantity helped the Kostelić siblings develop distinctive endurance and effectivity of their snowboarding. “You begin to ski very effectively via repetition, which is at all times quick since you’re not making further strikes,” Ivica notes.

Ivica’s father, Ante Kostelić, performed an important position of their success along with his artistic strategy to teaching and course setting. “My dad believed that the essence of all educating is expertise, not verbal directions. His artistic course settings helped us be taught and adapt,” Ivica says. Ante’s philosophy was that sport ought to push human limits, a perception that considerably influenced their coaching and aggressive methods. “He believed that sport is about approaching human limits and that you would be able to’t train environment friendly snowboarding; it comes from repetition and expertise.”

Ivica emphasised that his father admired athletes who realized from their surroundings, notably Bode Miller. “My dad at all times stated, have a look at Bode. No one was ever educating Bode how you can ski, and that’s why he’s so good. The mountain taught him,” Ivica explains. Ante’s philosophy was rooted in the concept expertise on the mountain is the perfect trainer.

Significance of Quantity Coaching Throughout Early Teenagers

A vital side of the Kostelić coaching philosophy was the timing and extent of their coaching quantity. Ivica emphasizes that probably the most intensive quantity coaching occurred earlier than they had been absolutely grown adults. “We did a variety of quantity earlier than we turned 16 or 17. It’s inconceivable to take care of that quantity stage as soon as your physique is absolutely grown; it might break down,” Ivica explains. He additional highlights the significance of this early quantity in growing environment friendly snowboarding methods. “If you do intensive coaching quantity whereas rising, you’re usually snowboarding drained. That’s once you be taught to ski effectively as a result of your physique removes pointless actions to outlive.”

Nevertheless, when Ivica and Janica had been very younger, their coaching balanced on-snow time with health. “We skied two to a few days per week and did health coaching three days per week,” Ivica notes. This stability was essential in constructing a stable basis for his or her future success.

Household Dynamics and Challenges

Rising up in a household deeply dedicated to snowboarding had distinctive advantages and challenges. “The profit was the fixed care and development in our improvement. We didn’t swap coaches yearly, and our workforce was at all times with us, making us really feel peaceable,” Ivica explains. Nevertheless, this additionally meant that their private lives had been carefully managed. “Even our relaxation days had been monitored, which was powerful generally as a result of, as youngsters, we needed some freedom,” he provides.

Monetary challenges had been a big a part of their journey, particularly earlier than they began incomes prize cash. “We slept in forests and had minimal monetary help from the federation. Discovering sponsors in Croatia through the warfare was practically inconceivable,” Ivica recollects. It wasn’t till 1998, when Vedran Pavlek took over the Croatian Ski Federation, that they began receiving correct help.

Teaching and Contributions

Having their father as a coach had profound advantages for Ivica and Janica. “The largest profit was the fixed and educated care we acquired. My dad was strict however very efficient in pushing us to our limits,” Ivica says. The challenges, nevertheless, included balancing household dynamics and the depth of their coaching routine. “It was powerful to have a life outdoors of our coaching as a result of every part was managed,” he provides.

Ivica deeply admires his father and credit him considerably for his or her success. “My dad was at all times pushing us to our limits and past. His perception in us and his artistic strategy to teaching had been instrumental in our achievements,” Ivica emphasizes. “He was strict, however he was additionally extremely devoted. We owe a lot of our success to his relentless pursuit of excellence.”

Later in Ivica’s profession, including Italian World Cup winner Kristian Ghedina to their workforce introduced a brand new dynamic. “Ghedina was a optimistic, loopy man who match nicely into our workforce and helped lots with the velocity occasions,” Ivica recollects fondly. “I keep in mind as soon as in Zermatt, Ghedina determined to ski straight down a steep, open glacier face (off-piste) with out turning. He straight-lined down, and I assumed, ‘That is inconceivable.’ When he reached the underside, he checked out his watch and stated, ‘100 thirty (kph); I assumed it might be extra.’ That’s how loopy he was.”

Admiration for Janica

Ivica admires his sister Janica as an athlete and as his finest pal. “Janica was born a champion, and she or he at all times impressed me. Regardless that she was youthful, her expertise and dedication had been unbelievable,” Ivica says. Their shut relationship was an important a part of his expertise. “We solely had one another; we’d hang around as buddies after coaching, climbing rocks and mountains. These had been a number of the finest occasions,” he reminisces.

Private Life and Future

Nevertheless, Ivica’s 4 kids usually are not ski racers, and neither are his sister’s kids “They’re extra serious about soccer, and I help them in no matter sport they select,” he says. Reflecting on his profession, Ivica cherishes his means to compete nicely in all snowboarding occasions. “Probably the most cherished side of my profession is that I used to be capable of ski nicely in all occasions, which is the toughest to realize,” he states.

As a coach, Ivica applies classes from his profession to his teaching. “I emphasize the significance of quantity coaching earlier than depth, because it builds a powerful basis and resilience,” he says. He advises aspiring athletes and their households to make the most of their distinctive benefits and never simply imitate bigger groups. “Help and protracted coaching are essential,” he emphasizes.

Recommendation to Households Following Their Footsteps

Ivica affords particular recommendation for households trying to emulate the Kostelić ski racing mannequin. “You probably have a household workforce, don’t imitate the massive groups. You’ve gotten sure benefits they don’t. Use these benefits and adapt your coaching to your sources,” Ivica advises. He stresses the significance of leveraging the distinctive advantages of a household unit. “You’ve gotten fixed care and development. Your workforce is aware of you deeply and may present tailor-made help. Don’t be afraid to make use of that to your benefit.”

Nevertheless, Ivica additionally acknowledges the challenges. “The largest problem is having a life outdoors the household program. You’ll want to discover a stability and permit for some private freedom,” he says. He additionally emphasizes the significance of coaching with others to realize totally different views and experiences. “Attempt to be part of different groups for coaching at any time when doable. Competing with others can improve your coaching high quality.”

Ivica’s ardour for snowboarding stays robust, however he sees himself having fun with the slopes as a skier, not a coach, in his later years. “Teaching is hard, and I’ve seen the difficult lifetime of a ski coach. I’d slightly ski for enjoyable,” he concludes.

Conclusion

The Kostelić household’s journey in alpine snowboarding is a testomony to the ability of innovation, persistence, and household help. Ivica and Janica Kostelić achieved exceptional success and impressed a era of Croatian skiers. Their story is a strong reminder of what might be completed with dedication and a novel strategy to coaching and competitors.