5th in Saalbach, 3rd in Madonna: the races before Christmas went extremely well for me – even though it didn't look that way at first.

Seventh place and second-best Austrian in Levi – that works. Of course I'd hoped for a bit more, but after my mistake in the second run I was just glad I stayed in.

Let me say this up front: the anticipation and positive tension grow with every hour. This Sunday it finally gets going for real.

After the season is before the season: if you're wondering what I've been up to between the end of last season and the start of the new race calendar, here are the answers.