'Crazy' Ledecka laughs at being called role model

Skiing, not riding

The use of the word "riding" made her ski coach Tomas Bank bristle.

"We don't say riding, we say skiing!" Bank chided.

There has traditionally been little love lost in the age-old rivalry between skier and snowboarders, the latter long seen as newcomers who have muscled in on the mountain scene.

"With the snowboarders on this side," she said pointing to her snowboard coach Justin Reiter, "I say, 'Damn skiers!'

"On this skiing side with Tomas I say, 'Damn snowboarders!'" she added, suggesting she was not the conduit for remedying the apparent disconnect between the two sports.

That was reinforced by her tweet after winning the super-G, arguably contender for one of the best of the Games.

"Austria: We are the best in super-G! Swiss: No, we are the best! USA: Shut up, we are the best! Italia: Mamma mia! Ledecka: Hold my beer ... and snowboard."

Ledecka said her "biggest advantage" was that she was continuing to enjoy herself.

"As long as I have fun, as long as I do this for myself, I think it's a good way and very special. Not all the girls have this all the time.

"As long as I'm on a hill, I feel like it's home."

AFP