"Certain coaches do not wish my presence. You can already see some low punches," is Andrea Massi’s response, to whether he would be prepared to take over a bigger role in Slovenian skiing.

Last season’s "rest" did good for Massi. Since 2007 every year he had the stressful task of being in charge of Tina Maze’s team. If Maze would decide to continue her career (Massi says she still hasn’t made a final decision and that the media misinterpreted her words at the presentation of her children’s picture book Tina in medvedja moč), she would have to embark on that new chapter without Massi: "I have no wish to confront her in the field of sports anymore. And I know that she would immediately start disagreeing with me if she would to continue, because I’m the type of person who always demands too much." MMC’s interview with Massi also touched on his cooperation with the Slovenian Ski Association and his views on the progress in Slovenian skiing, which was more than evident last winter.

It seems that Maze has more or less made up her mind to end her career...
I alone have never heard her announce the end of her career. The media has misinterpreted her words. She only answered to a child that it would be difficult to return after an absence, but she has made no such decision yet.

Well, she even told TV Slovenija that she did not have the appropriate competitive energy... Do you have any influence on the final decision?
No, it’s her decision and I will respect it. I’ve been in charge of her trainings and competitions for eight years, and I think it now goes without saying that I should not interfere with this decision. It is also a sign of respect. She only has my advice, that if she continues she would have to put all her effort into it because she’s not just any skier - she’s Tina Maze. She has fulfilled all the goals except winning the slalom small crystal globe, which was my fault.

Are you referring to the race in Lenzerheide and the story about the coffee?
Yes. My concentration fell between the two runs, I wasn’t careful enough and Tina is very sensitive regarding her diet. She had one coffee too much, which was wrong, because she wasn’t used to that. All of Slovenia laughed about it, because it obviously didn’t understand that a 'Formula one engine', like Tina, quickly feels the consequence of one wrong decision.

How quick would it take Tina Maze to get back in top shape if she would decide to continue her career?
Very quick. She showed the whole world what it means to be in perfect physical condition, and she could without doubt do it again. There is the question, however, on whether she would be able to compete in all the disciplines. And here we disagree. Tina would probably want to compete only in the fast disciplines, while I would advocate the technical disciplines.

Even though you think differently, it’s hard to imagine that you would not be in her team if she would decide to return to World Cup competition.
Our accounts are settled and my position is clear: I’ve finished my business with Tina regarding her skiing career. I really hope that if she decides to continue her career she won’t come beg me to do the same.

But in such a case it would probably be difficult to make a decision ...
I hope to stand by my decision, although women can be very persuasive. I agree that it would be a problem. So once again: I hope she doesn’t ask me to do it. But I would be willing to put together her team, although I already see that finding a good fitness coach would be a big problem. I don’t know who would be able to tame such a racing horse, as we say in Italy, of course meant in the most positive sense.

It’s still difficult to imagine her continuing without you ...
At the start of our collaboration, when it was most stressful, I told her: "If I happen to die between the first and second runs, you still have to win." An athlete has to depend only on oneself. An athlete must simply be selfish and not depend on others.

Are you also afraid that you would have to go over all your disputes and disagreements again, which also marked your joint path to success...
Our relationship was always on the line. That is why I no longer wish to confront her in the field of sports anymore. And I know that she would immediately start disagreeing with me if she would to continue, because I’m the type of person who always demands too much. An old story.

You are also an exceptional motivator and you knew how to inject that winning mentality into Tina, something Slovenian athletes often lack ...
I knew what she was capable of. I once told Vito Divac (note: a journalist at the Delo daily) that she would be capable of surpassing the 2.000 point mark in the World Cup. And they all laughed. They thought, how could Tina do that if even Vonn can’t. It’s time to set things straight. I knew that she was the best skier in the world. There are three or maybe four female skiers in the world like that. You immediately notice the harmony of movement, spontaneity, easiness...

If we imagine that that you really end your ski story with Tina Maze – only acting as a supervisor in her last season, the Slovenian Ski Association would probably want to offer you a more important position, wouldn’t it?
I have to admit that the head of the Slovenian Ski Association – SZS, Joško Križan and Marko Gorjanc have already silently expressed such a wish. I’m honoured, but at the same time I know that certain coaches do not wish my presence. So it’s all a little conflicting. I was at Krvavec (note: the state ski championships were held there last weekend) and the atmosphere among the competitors was really nice, but not among the coaches. You can already see some low punches being thrown.

Do they fear for their jobs?
Every coach has to fear for his job every day. Every day you have to start all over again. You can’t just take care of yourself but you always have to sit in the draught. Even I never considered being a coach all my life. You are for a period of time, but then you have to move on to other positions and back away, otherwise it can all kill you.

Last season did you not miss the rhythm of the 'white circuit', the races, the glare, Tina’s triumphs, although it was all also connected to stress?
I certainly didn’t miss the stress. One season I had a cholesterol level of 242 and four percent fat content. My body was totally contaminated. All the alarms went off, even more so because of the bad experiences in my family. Health is a priority. Another thing with me is that I either go into something fully or I don’t take up on a project at all. That’s why this year’s experience, when I acted as an adviser, was good for me. Especially with Peter Pen (the coach for fast disciplines in the men’s team) who knew how to take advantage of the situation. In short, the role that was given to me was appropriate and I thank the Slovenian Ski Association (SZS) for making it possible.

If you reach an agreement with the SZS, from which position would you be able to help Slovenian skiing?
If I were to take over a higher position, I would demand absolute authority, although I know the majority does not want that. I would put together the teams and the coaches. I think the Alpine disciplines are in need of someone with a strong fist and someone with the power to make changes. In my opinion, the organizational structure we have today, with the council of experts, the board for Alpine skiing and ski clubs is not the best. We have to think a bit differently.

In the last season Slovenia’s Alpine skiing has seen some good improvement, especially in the names of Ana Drev and Boštjan Kline. You also took part in the men’s team fitness preparations. Do you perhaps also take credit for a part of Boštjan’s success this season?
No. I never took credit, not even when Tina was winning. I do agree though that a change can be noticed. Boštjan Kline is a great potential. He probably caught his last train. If he would have failed to make such results this year, we would have had another youth world champion with a lost opportunity. It’s a little different with Ana Drev. It’s no secret that I put her under pressure in Sölden, but unfortunately Denis Šteharnik (the coach of the women’s team) took it as a bad joke.

Do you have any offers from abroad?
I do, but I don’t like to talk about it and make it look as if I’m boasting. Apart from that the SZS has preference. After all I still have a contract with them, which was automatically renewed for the next season as well. Yes, I did receive offers from two national teams, an offer for collaborating with one female skier, as well as an offer from a multinational company interested in a special project. Some sponsors are getting tired of sponsoring skiing in the classical way.