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Despite the tireless efforts of the organizers, heavy snow and high winds made the two men’s descents in Zermatt impossible last weekend. Designed by Ingenhoven Associates, a group company of BKW Starting house would have been ready for the races though. The inflatable, sustainable innovation can be set up in just 90 minutes and removed from the glacier without a trace after the races (read more here). If the weather cooperates this time, the starting house of the latest generation will celebrate its race premiere in the women’s races on Saturday and Sunday.
Crucial place, crucial moments
The starting area and the starting house are of great importance for the athletes. Here they combine their concentration and strength. The adrenaline flows freely – sometimes because something doesn’t work out at the crucial moment.
For example, older students remember February 13, 1994. At that time, the whole country watched Lillehammer in Norway with breath. Will speed star Franz Heinzer take his first Olympic victory in the downhill? Be enthusiastic, keep your fingers crossed. Then the ice-cold shower: Heinzer pushes hard at the start, but the right ski remains in the starting house. Break the bond, out of the dream after just two seconds!
Other athletes have also experienced accidents in the starting house, as the examples below show. The Swiss ski stars also reveal their best moments at the start, what they expect from the perfect starting house and how they find the BKW starting house in Zermatt.
Worst starting time
«I experienced that during my first FIS race. By the time it was finally my turn, they had already torn down the starting house. Only the starting jury member and the timing were still there.”
Stefan Rogentin
“Once I slipped at the start. You don’t want to experience failure before it even starts.
Marco Odermatt
“My stick broke once two minutes before the start. In the end I was still on the podium. But the worst moment was during a European Cup final in Andorra. I stomped my skis as the soldier ran away from the lead athlete. My ski landed on his boot and there was a horrible sound as my edge hit his buckles. I had 20 seconds left and looked at my soldier. He shook his head and said, “Go ahead.” I didn’t know how good the edge was. Horror.”
Michelle Gisin
“The worst moment was in Sölden when I won there for the second time. In the second run I almost tripped. I would like to prevent my career from collapsing at the beginning.”
Lar Good
“Luckily that was before the World Cup. Before the race a rock hit my ski. I stood at the start and knew it was going to be difficult because my skis always got stuck on this side. It’s not fun like that.”
Corine Suter
“Bad is the wrong word, it was quite funny. At the Olympics, Corinne Suter started training behind me. She was chatting, and since I know her well, it was just funny. It’s always like that when it’s her turn after me. But when my glasses fogged up, I was a bit stressed.”
Jasmine Flury
Best starting house moment
“It is always impressive to be at the start in Kitzbühel. This will be remembered for a lifetime.”
Stefan Rogentin
«When I decided to start in Sölden in 2017 after my injury, I was so happy that I could ride again. Being at the start was a special experience.”
Lar Good
“There are two moments. One was in Sölden in the autumn of 2021. I didn’t expect to be back at the start line so soon after my glandular fever. When I watched it, I cried because I was so happy and grateful. The second moment was last year at the Olympic Games. I was very nervous. Then at the last moment I realized: Courage is not the absence of fear, but the victory over it. It worked perfectly.”
Michelle Gisin
“I experience the best starting moments in the classic races. It is also very special if you are in the lead in the first run of the giant slalom. When you are at the start in the second run and look back, there is no one there anymore. This is a special moment.”
Marco Odermatt
«It’s difficult to choose one moment. But at the beginning of the season everything is more intense. When you stand in the starting house, it gives you a different feeling than when you start training. The bell, the beeping – it’s very easy to get into the tunnel. That is always a beautiful moment for me.”
Jasmine Flury
“The 2022 Olympic Games went very cool. Everything was nothing spectacular, so normal. This is special for me. Because such a major event is anything but normal. So I could try to approach everything as I did in training.”
Corine Suter
The perfect starter home
«In the beginning I don’t need much. But I want my peace and my space and not too many people. The bigger the starting house, the more peace you have.”
Wendy Holdener
“It must provide sufficient space and protection against the wind, that is the most important thing. You don’t want to be cold at first. But I also experienced that everyone wanted to go to the starting house because it was so hot and everyone was looking for shade. »
Lar Good
«The perfect starting house should have a long entrance and enough space for all athletes. This is very important to us. Because we need rest to be able to concentrate properly and to run a good race.”
Stefan Rogentin
“Above all, it must be windproof. The worst is when the wind blows in from the front in the last two minutes before the start. Then you start to freeze because you’re already in the skis and you can’t move anymore. Sufficient space is also important. We often have very small houses, and the athlete for your caretakers practically rides over your skis. This is difficult. My military always scatters.”
Michelle Gisin
“There are starting houses where only you, the soldier and the trainer fit. The perfect starting house must provide sufficient space – and prevent it from blowing completely when the wind blows.”
Marco Odermatt
The BKW starting house
“It’s very futuristic. Modern, something completely different. You feel absolutely good and great when you go out. With its silver color it also fits very well in the snow. And the fact that it runs on solar energy is cool!”
Wendy Holdener
«The starting house in Zermatt is one of the top starting houses, together with Kitzbühel and Wengen. It has everything you need and is very durable. This is important for our sport and necessary so that future generations can continue to practice it.”
Stefan Rogentin
“It may not be as idyllic as the wooden hut on the Lauberhorn, but technologically very advanced, like in Kitzbühel.”
Marco Odermatt
«I like that the starting house in Zermatt has solar panels and is so sustainable. It also looks stylish and protects us like a cocoon. I think it will be high, if not at the top, in the popularity rankings in the women’s circus.”
Michelle Gisin
“I especially like the format. Otherwise there is always such a crowd. Everyone will find their place here. And when the wind blows it is certainly warm there, so you have a good place to retreat. It is usually quite cold in the station wagon.”
Jasmine Flury
‘I have never seen such a beautiful starting house among us women. It is impressive and looks very big. And with the LED light it is very special. I kinda like it. If there were a ranking, it would be quite high, if not at the top.”
Corine Suter
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
