Kalle Palander
Kalle Markus Palander ( born May 2, 1977 in Tornio ) is a Finnish former ski racer. He specializes in the slalom and giant slalom and celebrated his biggest success with the world champion title in the slalom in 1999.
Career
Since in 1998 the Austrian Christian Leitner took over the training of the Finnish national ski team, the services of the Finnish skier increased steadily. The best racers from this group was Kalle Palander, the surprisingly slalom world champion at the World Championship 1999 in Vail. The final breakthrough came Palander in the 2002/03 season, when he decided the slalom World Cup itself. Palander won a total of 14 World Cup races (10 slaloms and giant slaloms 4 ) and stood 30 times on the podium. In 2003 he won the slalom World Cup, 2004 and 2006, he came second in the standings. In the giant slalom World Cup standings, he succeeded in 2004 as a second also on the podium.
Palander career was accompanied meantime repeatedly injury. So he had the entire 2008/09 season - pause and the entire 2009/10 season - with the exception of two FIS races in April. The comeback in the 2010/11 season proved to be difficult. He could win a giant slalom in the European Cup, but in the World Cup he came in any race in the top 20 start of the season 2011/12 in Sölden Palander injured again at the knee, which he had to pause for a season. In September 2012, he announced his retirement from racing.
Private life
From the marriage with Riina - Maija Palander four children.
In 2011, the family acquired the Estonian manor Ontika they renovated in the following years and tags to a hotel.
Achievements
Olympic games
- Nagano 1998: 9 Slalom
- Turin 2006: 9 Giant Slalom
World Championships
- Sestriere 1997: 16th slalom, downhill 38th, 39th Super -G
- Vail 1999: 1 Slalom, Giant Slalom 17th, 37th Super -G
- St. Moritz 2003: 6 Giant Slalom, Slalom 7
- Bormio 2005: 4 Giant Slalom
- Åre 2007: 7 Giant Slalom
World Cup ratings
- Season 1999/ 00: 38th overall, 17th slalom, giant slalom 32
- Season 2000/ 01: 83 total, 31 Slalom, Giant Slalom 52
- Season 2001/ 02: 28th overall, 6th slalom, giant slalom 41
- Season 2002/ 03: 4 Total, 1 slalom, giant slalom 25
- Season 2003/ 04: 6 total, 2 Slalom, Giant Slalom 2nd
- Season 2004/ 05: 9 Total 10 Slalom, Giant Slalom 6
- Season 2005/ 06: 7th overall, 2nd Slalom, Giant Slalom 5
- Season 2006/ 07: 10th overall, 9th Slalom, Giant Slalom 4
- Season 2007/ 08: 27 total, 22 Slalom, Giant Slalom 9
- Season 2008/ 09: -
- Season 2009/ 10: -
- Season 2010/ 11: 101 total, 47 Slalom, Giant Slalom 38
World Cup wins
- 30 podiums including 14 victories:
European Cup and Nor -Am Cup Win
Junior World Championships
- Voss 1995: 25 Giant Slalom, Downhill 56
- High -Ybrig 1996: 3 combination, 4th Slalom, Giant Slalom 12th, 15th Super -G, downhill 33