Svindal honored with Trophy Serge Lang

For the 45th time since 1963, the International Association of Ski Journalists elected their “Skieur d’Or” or “Skier of the Year” just days before the alpine World Cup opener at Sölden.
    An impressive majority of reporters chose to vote for Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal. The soon-to-be 25-year-old Scandinavian joined the list of prestigious champions who have marked the history of modern ski racing. Some of the recent winners include top athletes Hermann Maier (2004), Bode Miller (2005) and Benjamin Raich (2006).
    The Golden Skier, also called Trophy Serge Lang in honor of the founder of the World Cup who also launched the AIJS in the early 1960s, is a special award for the ski racing community. It rewards not only a great competitor for important victories during the season, but also a role model able to positively influence the image of the sport. Svindal, appreciated by all for his friendly relationships with the journalists from the White Circus, really deserves this special prize.
SÖLDEN, Austria — For the 45th time since 1963, the International Association of Ski Journalists elected their “Skieur d’Or” or “Skier of the Year” just days before the alpine World Cup opener at Sölden.
    An impressive majority of reporters chose to vote for Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal. The soon-to-be 25-year-old Scandinavian joined the list of prestigious champions who have marked the history of modern ski racing. Some of the recent winners include top athletes Hermann Maier (2004), Bode Miller (2005) and Benjamin Raich (2006).
    The Golden Skier, also called Trophy Serge Lang in honor of the founder of the World Cup who also launched the AIJS in the early 1960s, is a special award for the ski racing community. It rewards not only a great competitor for important victories during the season, but also a role model able to positively influence the image of the sport. Svindal, appreciated by all for his friendly relationships with the journalists from the White Circus, really deserves this special prize.
    “Aksel was the dominating character of the past season with his gold medals in Are and his triumph in the overall World Cup standings at the thrilling Finals at Lenzerheide,” said AIJS Vice President Patrick Lang during the award ceremony at Sölden, organized with the support of Milka. “Many of us were impressed and moved at Are when he warmly hugged and congratulated crying Didier Cuche in the finish area of the giant slalom after the Swiss had confirmed the bronze medal. He also amazed us at Lenzerheide with his fighting spirit which allowed him to capture the World Cup trophy. He is truly as elegant in normal life as on the slopes!
    “His clear victory in the AIJS votes confirms the deep respect that the world press feels for him. We wish him not only another great season but also to remain himself — successful yet relaxed — in the coming years.”
    Svindal, who turns 25 in December, has competed on the World Cup tour since the 2002-03 season. A year after his first major successes during the 2005-06 season, he became the first Norwegian to clinch gold in downhill at the 2007 World Championships, before winning another one in giant slalom. The winner of three of the four races at the Lenzerheide Finals, he followed his predecessors Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Lasse Kjus in collecting his first overall trophy.
    The AIJS has approximately 200 members from 13 countries. The member journalists consistently cover the World Cup season and the main skiing events throughout the winter. AIJS was founded in the early 1960s by a group of reporters from various Alpine countries as they began to regularly travel with the ski teams from race to race. They were initially seeking better working conditions at the ski resorts. Their efforts have been notably successful. The AIJS was chaired by one of its co-founders, Serge Lang, until 1999. The current president is Robert Seeger, the well-known TV commentator from ORF. The AIJS is an important media partner of the FIS and four of its members also belong to the FIS World Cup Committee.

— Patrick Lang