That's Tomba la Bomba, not Tomba la Rumba
An expectant hush descended on the glamorous crowd of wannabe starlets and trendy Warsaw high-flyers, and then there he was-the rock star of the slopes on his first visit to Poland.
Dressed down in a long-sleeved tee-shirt and combat trousers, with his hair-slicked back into a pony tail, the heavily tanned 'Tomba la Bomba' stood center stage brandishing a pair of skis.
The five-time Olympic medal winner was introduced by Paolo Cozza from TV's 'Europa Da Się Lubić' as the Ferrari of skiing, and a racing phenomenon.
Indeed, Alberto Tomba has worked hard to earn this acclaim. He is undoubtedly the most popular skier of all time, with a tally of more than 50 World Cup medals to add to his three Olympic golds and two silvers. But it was his playboy antics off the slopes that really enhanced his image.
On his age, he was once quoted as saying: "I used to have a wild time with three women until 5 a.m., but I am getting older. In the Olympic Village here, I will live it up with five women, but only until 3 a.m."
So just what was the skiing idol doing on a Tuesday night in Champions bar, Warsaw?
As he larked about, playing fool to Paolo's funnyman, sliding across the stage on skis, the 37-year-old Tomba appeared disarmingly charming, subtly lending some of his superstar status to a mainstream make of sports gear.
But the real message that 'Rossignol rocks' was carried by the long-legged, long-haired lookers who cavorted on stage moments later, clad in this winter's look.
The models rounded off their show with a guest turn from Alberto. But the grace and skill he once demonstrated on the slopes didn't seem to transfer to the dance floor. While his leggy partner whooped up the crowd, Alberto looked relaxed, but uncoordinated holding a multi-colored new season ski by his side. Whatever image he carved in his heyday, Tomba la Bomba was never going to earn himself the moniker Tomba la Rumba nowadays.
Since turning his back on international ski competitions, Tomba has tried his hand at acting and worked tirelessly for the UNICEF fund. And one can't help wondering whether the leopard has finally changed his spots.
A chance encounter in the cloakroom queue may offer a clue. Stopping him as he passed by, Tomba readily shook hands. Asked whether he was going to party on through the night, he would only offer a modest smirk. But when quizzed about his views on Polish women, Alberto's features lit-up in approval, following a thumbs-up with a peal of ribald laughter before he continued on his way.
Dressed down in a long-sleeved tee-shirt and combat trousers, with his hair-slicked back into a pony tail, the heavily tanned 'Tomba la Bomba' stood center stage brandishing a pair of skis.
The five-time Olympic medal winner was introduced by Paolo Cozza from TV's 'Europa Da Się Lubić' as the Ferrari of skiing, and a racing phenomenon.
Indeed, Alberto Tomba has worked hard to earn this acclaim. He is undoubtedly the most popular skier of all time, with a tally of more than 50 World Cup medals to add to his three Olympic golds and two silvers. But it was his playboy antics off the slopes that really enhanced his image.
On his age, he was once quoted as saying: "I used to have a wild time with three women until 5 a.m., but I am getting older. In the Olympic Village here, I will live it up with five women, but only until 3 a.m."
So just what was the skiing idol doing on a Tuesday night in Champions bar, Warsaw?
As he larked about, playing fool to Paolo's funnyman, sliding across the stage on skis, the 37-year-old Tomba appeared disarmingly charming, subtly lending some of his superstar status to a mainstream make of sports gear.
But the real message that 'Rossignol rocks' was carried by the long-legged, long-haired lookers who cavorted on stage moments later, clad in this winter's look.
The models rounded off their show with a guest turn from Alberto. But the grace and skill he once demonstrated on the slopes didn't seem to transfer to the dance floor. While his leggy partner whooped up the crowd, Alberto looked relaxed, but uncoordinated holding a multi-colored new season ski by his side. Whatever image he carved in his heyday, Tomba la Bomba was never going to earn himself the moniker Tomba la Rumba nowadays.
Since turning his back on international ski competitions, Tomba has tried his hand at acting and worked tirelessly for the UNICEF fund. And one can't help wondering whether the leopard has finally changed his spots.
A chance encounter in the cloakroom queue may offer a clue. Stopping him as he passed by, Tomba readily shook hands. Asked whether he was going to party on through the night, he would only offer a modest smirk. But when quizzed about his views on Polish women, Alberto's features lit-up in approval, following a thumbs-up with a peal of ribald laughter before he continued on his way.
