Ingemar Stenmark has had a change of...

Ingemar Stenmark has had a change of heart and will continue to compete in World Cup slalom races next season through the world championships at Vail, Colo.

His second slalom run at the Calgary Olympics--the best of the day which lifted Stenmark to an overall fifth place--inspired the 32-year-old to stay on the World Cup circuit for a 16th season, Stenmark said at a press conference in his hometown of Tarnaby in northern Sweden.

“I have decided to quit skiing,” Stenmark said, looking out over the shocked crowd at the finish area after he fell in the first run of the Swedish championships.

“That is, for the season,” laughed Stenmark. “In February I had decided to end my career. I didn’t enjoy skiing any more and I didn’t do well. But I changed my mind after the second run at the Olympics which was pretty good.”

However, Stenmark said his giant slalom career, a discipline in which he has 45 World Cup victories, is over. “I won’t participate in the giant slalom unless I find a sensationally good form,” he said. “The world championships at Vail is my major goal for next season.”