Bovas88: League Champion

When did you first realize that the overall victory was possible?

I had already won the Beta season of the Leagues. Then, in the first official season, I was mistakenly relegated to Bronze League, so I lost four weeks of Master League and could not compete with the winner, Metzgermeister. Even so, I still managed to finish second. My expectations for this season were high from the beginning, and I managed to win just as I had hoped.

What is the main difference between Leagues and Events?

The main difference is the possibility to race with my own equipment. This rewards experienced players and those who decide to invest in the shop.

I have played about one hour a day over the last two years. Thanks to good leaderboard placements, Career Mode and the premium Ski Pass, I managed to unlock a lot of equipment, including level 5 items. With some effort, it is still possible to improve your setup.

Is the championship harder because you have to stay consistent, or are Events more demanding because one single run can decide everything?

For a passionate player like me, consistency is not a problem. In my opinion, Events are harder because more people take part in them and they are often “one shot, one kill”. They do not allow mistakes, and even experienced players make mistakes.

How do you approach a new championship week?

Unless there is something new, I know the tracks very well. I mainly use three types of skis, all level 5: one for Downhill, one for Super-G and one for Giant Slalom. By now I remember which ski to use depending on the track and conditions, so I jump straight into the race and choose the right setup for the snow conditions.

I never race against other ghosts, only sometimes against my own ghost. I prefer the pure experience. It would be nice to see split times and gaps to a selected ghost without actually having the ghost visible on the track.

If a run is not good enough, I restart it to avoid wasting time. Little by little, I improve my time until I am satisfied. Then I check the rankings daily. If someone beats me with better equipment, I try to improve but do not go crazy. If they beat me with identical equipment, then I really push hard.

Who were your toughest opponents this season?

Tom84 is definitely the ultimate tough nut to crack. Metzgermeister, second in the overall standings, also made things difficult because he often races in the last two hours of the week, so he is unpredictable. JonnyPongo gave me a very hard time in Val Gardena, and Jan Reto was always ready to battle. But among the toughest opponents, I would put Iceman first: when racing in Munich, beating him is always a huge challenge.

How important is choosing the right ski compared to pure racing skill?

Choosing the right ski is fundamental. With equal skill, it makes a big difference. Choosing the correct enhancements is just as important. Skill makes the difference when players use the same skis, but very strong players with less competitive skis cannot really fight for the top positions.

Is the fastest ski usually the best choice?

Not always. On Super-G or Giant Slalom tracks, a ski with a tighter turning radius and more grip can be more efficient, even if it has a lower top speed. Even in some Downhill races, depending on the conditions, a Super-G ski can be more efficient: Bormio, Zauchensee, Beaver Creek, Val Gardena and St. Moritz. Everyone can find their own preferred setup. Suit, goggles, helmet and gloves are always the same for me.

How do ice, snow and normal conditions change your approach?

I take normal conditions as my reference point. When the condition is snow, I know I can make much sharper turns without losing speed, thanks to the very high grip and the generally lower speed.

Ice is the hardest condition to control, but that is also why it excites me the most. You have to be very delicate, never turn too tightly, brake a lot and quickly return to position once the turn is completed. The main goal is to avoid sliding and losing speed. To have more control on ice, I even hold my smartphone much tighter in my hands.

How many attempts do you usually need before thinking: this is the right run?

I think I reach the finish line in about 20% of my runs on average. If I am not satisfied, I quit before the end. I might do around 30 starts per race, which means five or six completed runs. But it often happens that within the first two or three attempts I set a time that is hard to improve.

Which track or week was the most difficult of the season for you?

The hardest track is definitely Val Gardena, but Sölden is no joke either. Now we will discover Wengen Super-G and Crans Montana Super-G, which will be nice challenges. Overall, the hardest week was the one where two races out of three were in Munich. There, every thousandth of a second makes the difference and Iceman always made things extremely difficult for me.

What advice would you give to players who want to reach Master level?

Complete Career Mode, improve your equipment, including level 1 enhancements, and play, play, play.

Will we see Bovas88 triumph again in League Season 18?

I hope so. I will give it everything I have got.

Happy skiing, everyone.