Categories: Sports

Oldie Innerhofer meets younger von Allmen: “You should avoid sex before the match!”

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

1/12
Oldie meets younger: Blick brings together ski veteran Christof Innerhofer (l.) and Franjo von Allmen, the youngest downhill skier on the Swiss team, for a generational meeting in Beaver Creek.
Marcel W. Perren And Sven Thomann

When Christof Innerhofer took part in his first World Cup slalom race in Levi (Fi) on November 20, 2006, Franjo von Allmen from the Bernese Oberland was a four-year-old boy. The young man, who grew up in Boltigen at the foot of the Jaun Pass, has now developed into a strong indicator of the old master from South Tyrol. With second place in the overall downhill rankings in the European Cup, Von Allmen has secured a permanent place for this World Cup season. In the Hyat Bar in Beaver Creek, a humorous conversation takes place between the youngster from the Simmental and the downhill classic from South Tyrol.

Binnenhofer: Franjo, did you work as a butcher?

From Allmen: No, why do you think that?

Binnenhofer: I read that you make sausages.

From Allmen: When I won three silver medals at the Junior World Championships in 2022, our village butcher invented the “Silberblitz-Wurscht” in my honor. But I learned carpentry.

Binnenhofer: Then we both know what really hard work means: I used to work in construction.

Advertisement
More about skiing
“The option is in Switzerland”
FIS race director on new date for canceled descents
Monney, von Allmen and Kohler
This Swiss speed trio has Feuz potential
Three cancellations in a row
The downhill riders are threatened with a huge list of cancellations
In the 2nd training in Beaver Creek
Canadians narrowly avoid disaster
Serious fall in Beaver Creek
Thompson had to be put into a medically induced coma
“Risk of injury too great”
Men’s descent in Beaver Creek canceled
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde
“That’s how it all started between me and Mikaela”
Schütter gets a starting spot
Ösi climate activist starts in Beaver Creek

From Allmen: I’m very impressed with you. The fact that you are still achieving such strong sporting performances at the age of almost 40 is truly extraordinary. And I think I know a recipe for your success.

Binnenhofer: What recipe for success are you talking about?

From Allmen: I always think you are very happy. And that’s why I believe you’ve been able to compete at a high level for so long, because you really love ski racing.

Binnenhofer: I get goosebumps when you say that. And you’re right. I enjoy that I can still do what I love full-time. I love that I can compete with guys who could almost be my kids. Competing against the boys keeps me fit. For me it is also a bit of an attempt to freeze time. Even though I realize that of course it won’t work. But as I sit here with you, I have special memories of my first race at Beaver Creek in 2007.

Advertisement

From Allmen: What was so special then?

Binnenhofer: I can still remember exactly how I visited the steep slope with your famous compatriot Didier Cuche and how he gave me the tip that I should put on my skis before the wave. I thought that was way too early. Didier said: “Okay, just drive straight ahead, you’ll see what happens!” I’m glad I took his advice. Because of my curiosity I learned a lot from the veterans and thanks to them I grew quickly. And that is why I would like to advise you to also ask older drivers for advice.

From Allmen: I haven’t done that very often. I am naturally reserved towards people I meet newly.

Binnenhofer: Then I ask you something very important: Do you know how much protein you consume per day?

Advertisement

From Allmen: No I do not know?

Binnenhofer: I know my protein balance very well; Proteins are particularly useful for recovery. But at your age you recover much faster.

From Allmen: It depends. When I have to get used to a new slope and environment like here at Beaver Creek, I use more energy. And because of that I also noticed that it is important to eat healthy. But I don’t always eat healthy.

Binnenhofer: What I’m especially interested in: What are you thinking in the last five minutes before the start of the race?

Advertisement

From Allmen: Before I enter the starting house, I memorize the run again. In the starting gate I plan to have a lot of fun riding. I always try to remind myself that it is a privilege to be able to pursue this wonderful sport as a career.

Binnenhofer: It always worked best for me when I was very angry in the beginning. Just like in 2013 on the Lauberhorn!

From Allmen: What made you so angry?

Binnenhofer: A few hours before the start, my teammate Peter Fill claimed that my girlfriend had met another man. Then I started the race so aggressively. Peter’s statement made me angry and passionate. After driving through the Brüggli-S and through the tunnel, I said to myself: now I’m going to show my girlfriend who’s boss here. And I actually won the race.

Advertisement

From Allmen: That wouldn’t work for me. At first I have to keep my emotions in check. When I’m too busy and want too much, I make too many mistakes.

Binnenhofer: How many ski boots do you have with you?

From Allmen: Two pairs. But I only need one pair. I keep the other shoes with me in case something breaks on the model I prefer.

Binnenhofer: That would never be enough for me, which is why I have seven pairs in my luggage so that I am really prepared for any eventuality. Sometimes I even arrived with eleven pairs of shoes.

Advertisement

From Allmen: If I had so many shoes to choose from, I’d get bogged down in voting.

Binnenhofer: I partly agree with you on this point. Sometimes I thought too much about this area. That’s why I now only have seven pairs instead of eleven… I want to give you one last piece of advice.

From Allmen: Which?

Binnenhofer: Sex before the race is not good!

Advertisement

From Allmen: Serious?

Binnenhofer: I’m completely serious. I’m not going to train thousands of hours and waste valuable energy on sex the day before the race. But after the race it is important that you don’t do stupid things sometimes. I’ve done that enough to be able to switch off really well. I have always gone my own way. When I appeared in the newspaper for my sponsor wearing only my underwear, many people wondered: “Is Innerhofer completely crazy?” My coach told me he doesn’t like it at all. But it didn’t matter to me at all.

From Allmen: I’d have to get my body in a little better shape to advertise underwear.

Binnenhofer: It will be okay, dear Franjo!

Advertisement

Source : Blick

Share
Published by
Emma

Recent Posts

Terror suspect Chechen ‘hanged himself’ in Russian custody Egyptian President al-Sisi has been sworn in for a third term

On the same day of the terrorist attack on the Krokus City Hall in Moscow,…

1 year ago

Locals demand tourist tax for Tenerife: “Like a cancer consuming the island”

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/4Residents of Tenerife have had enough of noisy and dirty tourists.It's too loud, the…

1 year ago

Agreement reached: this is how much Tuchel will receive for his departure from Bayern

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/7Packing his things in Munich in the summer: Thomas Tuchel.After just over a year,…

1 year ago

Worst earthquake in 25 years in Taiwan +++ Number of deaths increased Is Russia running out of tanks? Now ‘Chinese coffins’ are used

At least seven people have been killed and 57 injured in severe earthquakes in the…

1 year ago

Now the moon should also have its own time (and its own clocks). These 11 photos and videos show just how intense the Taiwan earthquake was

The American space agency NASA would establish a uniform lunar time on behalf of the…

1 year ago

This is how the Swiss experienced the earthquake in Taiwan: “I saw a crack in the wall”

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/8Bode Obwegeser was surprised by the earthquake while he was sleeping. “It was a…

1 year ago