McLaren Star® International
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"Kimi On His Snowboard" McLaren Star® tries to keep up with Kimi Räikkönen as he masters some new skills on the slopes of the Swiss ski resort of Verbier.
There is a grey speck at the top of the mountain, outlined by the dazzling white of the snow and framed by the brilliant blue of the sky. The ‘speck’ starts to zigzag nearer to the foot of the mountain, showing all the poise of an accomplished snowboarder, at home in the wild countryside of the spectacular Swiss Alps. It is not until you are able to read the ‘West McLaren Mercedes’ on the ski hat and jacket that it is clear who this is: none other than the team’s newest recruit, Kimi Räikkönen. Having watched Kimi shimmy his way down the mountainside like a pro, it is quite hard to believe that he has never been to the Swiss Alps before, especially since he owns an apartment in Switzerland. Verbier, where Kimi is trying his hand at a few snowboarding moves, is one of the top ski resorts in Switzerland, and the area has certainly made an impression on the Finn. “We do not have mountains like this in Finland,” said Kimi. “It is the first time for me in this kind of place - it’s a totally new experience. Switzerland is a really nice country - there’s more space here than in Monaco, where all the houses are right next to one another and you don’t really have any privacy. I think the living
standard in Finland and in Switzerland is very similar - nice and quiet and good for relaxing!”” With only a few weeks remaining before Kimi’s debut grand prix with the West McLaren Mercedes team, the peaceful setting of the mountains was the ideal location for Kimi to unwind. As a fan of extreme sports it gave the Finn the perfect opportunity to keep fit and to keep his reactions sharp while trying out new challenges.
“I have always liked the excitement of extreme sports and since I was a child I started doing these sort of sports, like Moto-X for example. I like to do anything
that involves an engine, like Moto-X, skidoos or jet-skis.” There are plenty of extreme activities to get involved in at Verbier, and Kimi had a field day trying out snowboarding, skidooing and tobogganing. The ease at which he performed these sports highlighted the Finn’s natural sense of balance and his ability to concentrate while performing at speed: essential criteria for a Formula 1 driver. Kimi made his Formula 1 debut in 2001 and his meteoric rise has often been commented on in the press. Now, one year later, his signing with one of the top Formula 1 teams has been met with even more interest. Kimi appreciates that his move to partnering David Coulthard in the West McLaren Mercedes team was beyond most people’s expectations, but for him, it was inevitable.
“I really didn’t expect to be driving for one of the best teams so quickly,” he said modestly. “But this has always been my dream since I was small: to make it in Formula 1. Of course there is a lot of pressure on me this year, but there was also a lot of pressure on me last season because it was my first year in Formula 1 and I needed to prove myself. It really is too early to say what could happen in 2002 but I can only do my best.”
The long winter testing ban has allowed Kimi to acquaint himself with his new team, and he has, of course, visited the headquarters of West McLaren Mercedes in Woking quite a few times.
“There are really nice people working for the team and I feel at home already ,” he enthused. “During testing I work even more closely with team personnel and therefore I get to know them even better. I am very happy at West McLaren Mercedes: as a Formula 1 driver, you need to have good back-up and the right people behind you. After that, you just have to push very hard and make the best of what you have.”
Trying something for the first time is always very daunting. Whether that is joining a new Formula 1 team, snowboarding in a new and unfamiliar landscape or simply sitting at the top of a mountain with a precipitous drop below you for an interview (in Kimi’s words: ‘It’s a bit scary sitting here!’), but Kimi seems to take it in his stride. After a day on the slopes, the young Finn quickly mastered the techniques involved in snowboarding, performing a series of impressive-looking jumps and tail grabs. As the sun began to set over the horizon, turning the sea of blue sky to a flaming orange, Kimi looked relaxed and ready for his next big challenge, and one can’t help feeling that, whatever it is, he will be just as quick to master that.
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