Gut-Behrami more balanced than ever, Holdener without pain: that is the basis of Swiss skiing happiness

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Anyone traveling to the 1,500-resident village of Killington in the US state of Vermont in winter has to be tough. Almost every day is an ice day, the snow piles six feet high and the sun shines more rarely than anywhere else in the US.

And yet Killington is an oasis of happiness for two Swiss women. Lara Gut-Behrami (32) wins the giant slalom and says: “It’s a wonderful feeling.” The next day, Wendy Holdener finished third in the slalom. “I cried more than when I won a year ago,” she explains.

But what lies behind the Swiss duo’s happiness?

Gut-Behrami remains calm in the storm

First to Gut-Behrami. Your record at the start of the season is impeccable: two races, two wins. The last time she managed this was ten years ago. “I have great self-confidence.” You can see that with every swing and especially on the first run, where she remains undeterred despite a mini snowstorm. “Usually when it’s windy I have a bit of a hard time,” says the Ticino resident.

Gut-Behrami has had a summer with some skiing days and problems. She focused on getting as fit as possible. She worked for four weeks in Granada (Sp) with her Kondi coach Alejo Hervas. The ski training in Argentina was almost forgettable. “I never saw the sun, it was humid and my knee was having problems. I wondered what the point of that was.”

Nevertheless, at the age of 32, she is no longer driven by such problems. She knows how good she is and that she doesn’t need thousands of goals in training to get in shape.

Only the body can stop them

Add to that Gut-Behrami’s new, relaxed attitude: she seems more balanced than ever before and is enjoying life in the latter part of her career. Everything also seems to be going well in private, at home in Udine (It) with husband and ex-kicker Valon Behrami and on the road at the ski circus with parents Pauli and Gabriella.

Before the giant slalom doubles next weekend in Mont-Tremblant (Ka), the only question that arises is: will Gut-Behrami’s body hold up? She recently made it clear that regeneration is no longer happening as quickly as it did a few years ago. “To be able to lead the way, I have to be in top shape and healthy. That takes a lot of energy, and I am no longer the youngest.”

Painkiller? Pedestal!

This also applies to Wendy Holdener (30). While still in Levi (Fi), she took medication for back problems, could not find the right balance with the equipment and rode without confidence – the result was a 12th and 8th place in the slalom.

The past two weeks have taken a lot of energy. But: “I didn’t let myself be fooled.” It seems as if the woman from Schwyz is even more proud of this than her third place. Now winter can finally come for them too. “This result is very important. Now I hope that things will also improve soon in the giant slalom.”

Source : Blick