Ski Ace lets loose: No one is more explosive than Holdener

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She wears starting number 38, is in the final and wins confidently after just a few seconds: Wendy Holdener will celebrate a very special victory on August 14, 2023. “That’s right,” says the 30-year-old proudly. What is it about? The slalom star triumphed for the first time this summer in the traditional Chilbi nailing in Oberiberg SZ, near her home in Unteriberg. “First I had to fight my way into the top 8 in the elimination. It worked. And then I finally got into competition mode,” Holdener reflects.

In fact, she drives her last two nails into the tree trunk with such determination and precision, as if there is no tomorrow. “The winning prize was a pork rack and a wooden column, or a voucher including a bottle of wine.” Her mother Daniela, a trained cook, is in favor of the piece of meat. “That makes sense,” Holdener says with a smile – she is still deciding on the voucher and the bottle.

To lift weights? That’s not the point

What does this have to do with the ski circus? At first glance, not much. And yet Holdener’s victory in the nail competition is exemplary of the ambition she also shows in ski racing. “If I stay healthy and fit, I would like to continue until the World Cup at home in Crans-Montana in 2027,” she says. That would make Holdener 34 years old.

At the same time, the six-time World Cup and five-time Olympic medalist has something else that sets her apart: her explosiveness. She not only demonstrates this quality at the local Chilbi, but also regularly on the ski slopes.

“Together with the Swede Anna Swenn-Larsson, Wendy is for me the most explosive rider in the ski circuit,” says Michelle Gisin (29). Her teammate is flattered. “I’m quite quick-witted, which is actually a great strength. It is also important, even essential, in slalom.” On the one hand, Holdener probably has good genes. On the other hand, the strength she can develop in slalom is the result of 13 years of work at the World Cup. “Maybe I can’t lift as much weight as I used to. I can use the power I have better. This makes me more explosive.”

Coach Brill made Holdener quick

Holdener’s old coach Christian Brill is partly responsible for her fast muscles. Whether it concerns modern equipment that Holdener pulls down during squats, or classic jumping forms and ‘Leiterli exercises’ with short ground contact times – Brill knows exactly how to make his athlete agile. «Wendy can control her muscles better than before. This helps her to react quickly, even in difficult situations between goals.”

Next weekend in Levi (Fi), Holdener wants to prove her explosiveness – the first two slaloms of the winter are coming up. It is already certain that she will be one of the top contenders for victory – and not just because of her physical condition. Holdener further refined her technique in the summer (“I’m higher, have narrower skis”) and found the inner peace that she sometimes lacked in previous years.

Holder drives to win

Body, technique, head: winning her first two World Cup slaloms last season was a result of Holdener’s development. “Not only did I celebrate successes, but I also experienced disappointments – they made me stronger,” she says. In fact, Holdener has been fighting for good positions for a long time. However, since the 2021 World Cup in Cortina (It), one has the impression that victory is always on her mind. “I have actually made a big step in the past two years,” she confirms.

Missing out on the gold World Cup medal in Méribel (Friday) last February fits into this picture: Holdener was the best, risked a lot and was eliminated with gold in sight. “It was incredibly difficult, so little was missing. At the same time I had the right attitude: it would have been worse if I had slowed down the run.”

“A peace like never before”

And today? Holdener has had a good summer. The 22nd place at the start of the World Championships in Sölden was not what she had hoped for. But she knows the path to the top of the giant slalom is rocky. Very different in slalom – Holdener is top there. “I feel a calmness like never before,” she says. This will be over by next Saturday at the latest: Holdener is ready to explode on the slopes.

Source : Blick