Sami Uotila (skier)

Sami Uotila ( born November 2, 1976 in Helsinki ) is a Finnish former ski racer. He is the first male Finnish alpine skier who has reached the podium in a World Cup race.

Biography

The Finnish national ski team was Uotila to 1993. His special discipline was the giant slalom. His first World Cup races he contested in December 1994. Breakthrough the world's top five years later he succeeded in December 1999, when he first went on the Gran Risa in the Italian Alta Badia in the top ten. At the same place on 16 December 2001, he succeeded the biggest success of his career: In the giant slalom, he reached the third place, the best placement, a Finnish alpine skier had achieved up to that point. This placement he could only once, repeat in January 2003 in the giant slalom in Kranjska Gora. After numerous injuries hindered his athletic development. Overall, he reached eleven times a place among the top 10.

Uotila, in 1998 and 2002 at the Olympic Winter Games in part. He only finished an Olympic race: In the giant slalom in Nagano he was 19th at World Alpine Ski Championships Uotila took some four times (1997, 1999, 2001, 2005). His best finish he achieved in 1999 in Vail, where he finished ninth in the giant slalom.

After 13 years in the Alpine Skiing World Cup, he finished his career in 2007 and now works as a commentator on Finnish television.

Achievements

Olympic games

  • Nagano 1998: 19 Giant Slalom

World Championships

  • Sestriere 1997: 15 Giant Slalom, Super -G 42
  • Vail / Beaver Creek 1999: 9 Giant Slalom, Super -G 30
  • St. Anton 2001: 10 Giant Slalom

Junior World Championships

  • Lake Placid 1994: 8 Super -G, downhill 10
  • Voss 1995: 8 downhill, slalom 23

World Cup

  • Season 2001/ 02: 8 Giant Slalom rating
  • 2 podiums, 9 more placements in the top ten

European Cup

  • Season 1997/98: 3rd giant slalom standings, 9 super-G standings
  • 1998/99 season: 9th overall, 2nd Giant Slalom rating
  • Season 1999/2000: 8th overall, 2nd Giant Slalom rating
  • Season 2000/ 01: 3rd overall, 1st Giant Slalom rating
  • 20 podiums including 10 victories (all in giant slalom )

Other successes

  • 2 podiums in Nor- Am Cup, including 1 win
  • 4 Finnish Champion title ( giant slalom in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002 )
  • 9 wins in FIS races
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