Former ski champion Aufdenblatten: a race in Zermatt was her dream – now it’s up close and personal

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Fränzi Aufdenblatten looks over the Theodul Glacier to the Laghi Cime Bianche. This is the finish of the first women’s descent on the Matterhorn. “It was always my big dream to participate in a World Cup race here. “I was a speed rider, grew up in Zermatt and would have loved nothing more than to have a race on my doorstep,” says the 42-year-old.

However, Aufdenblatten is not saddened by this. On the contrary: she is happy to be able to experience the premiere of the new descent up close as part of the core team. “I took three weeks of vacation to look over the shoulders of the OC. I am interested in how the responsibilities are divided and how the exchange with the FIS works. I also help with very practical things, such as setting up nets, clearing new snow and sliding down the slopes.”

Is it true that she has ambitions to one day take over the race leadership of the “Speedopening”? “That is not a problem at the moment. I just look over a lot of people’s shoulders and really appreciate that. As a ski racer, I didn’t realize how much effort it takes to organize such a race. For me it is extremely fascinating, I learn something every day.”

Learning is a good keyword for Aufdenblatten. During her active time, she always tried to get better, knowing that she would not become a serial winner. Her career had started promisingly: gold at the Junior Downhill World Championships in 2000 was followed a year later by the same title, this time in the giant slalom.

“It sounds strange, but these early successes made life difficult for me. When I came to the World Cup, the entire Swiss team was in a hole. The spotlights were bright, everyone was looking at us. I couldn’t deal with that for a long time, sometimes I was a lot of misery.”

World Cup shame and the sailing nation

Aufdenblatten eventually caught herself, thanks in part to the help of head coach Angelo Maina, who encouraged her. At that time, Switzerland was divided into its separate parts. «In 2003 we had to endure a lot of malice. At that time, Alinghi had won the America’s Cup for the first time and it was said that from now on we would be a sailing country, but no longer a skiing country.”

It didn’t get better. On the contrary. At the 2005 World Cup, the Swiss team did not win a single medal and the “Shame of Bormio” went down in history. Although Aufdenblatten had already celebrated her first World Cup podium finish at that point (third place in the downhill in Haus im Ennstal, Austria), she lacked the consistency to consistently lead the way.

Aufdenblatten wants to take children into the snow

Yet Aufdenblatten did not let her enjoyment of the sport take away from her; she was considered a cheerful person. And today she still laughs a lot and enjoys it. ‘I am a very positive person. But how can you not be when you have these mountains and this snow around you?” she asks rhetorically. Aufdenblatten works in Bern during the week as a team leader at Swisscom and is responsible for network expansion, something she is also passionate about. “I love the topic of technology, but also the conversations with partners,” she says.

But that is not everything. Aufdenblatten has also recently chaired the Swiss Snow Sports Initiative. “There are many children who live in Switzerland but have never been on skis. It would be like growing up in Hawaii and never stepping on a surfboard.” She also helps organize ski camps for children. “For me it’s not just about sports. Whether someone takes up professional sports is secondary. Group dynamics, conflicts, assertiveness, homesickness – you learn so much in camps that are important for later life.”

What is she missing? A jump of 50 meters

On December 20, 2009, just before Christmas, Aufdenblatten won her only World Cup competition. She was the fastest at the Super-G in Val d’Isère (Fr). ‘I had to wait a long time. I was even more excited when it happened.” But frustration and pain followed immediately. Just a month after her victory, the Valais woman tore her cruciate ligament and missed the 2010 Olympics. “Great timing,” she says ironically.

Aufdenblatten ended her career in 2014. Not in any way, but with a podium finish at the World Cup finals in Lenzerheide. “I came third. “I am very proud of that, perhaps even more proud than my only victory,” she says.

The question remains: wouldn’t she love to hurtle down the Matterhorn piste and make her old dream come true? “No. That’s right as it is. There’s just something that would tempt me.” What? “Running over a real jump and flying 40 or 50 meters. I haven’t had this feeling in ten years.”

Source : Blick