The entire ski world is enthusiastic about Franjo von Allmen: “Only the really great ones can do something like that.”

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Few mountain heroes can boast such a strong record from their rookie years as Franjo von Allmen. The 22-year-old from the Bernese Oberland needed just three World Cup starts before finishing ninth in the Super-G in Val Gardena and reaching the top 10 for the first time. And during his twelfth appearance, he achieved his first podium finish at the highest level last Sunday during the Garmisch Super-G.

For comparison, I think of the two biggest Swiss ski stars of the past thirty years: Marco Odermatt (26) needed 21 attempts before he could place in the top ten of the World Cup. Today’s best driver celebrated his first top-three finish in the 35th race. Olympic downhill champion Beat Feuz (36) made his first jump on the podium in his 36th World Cup race.

Similar to Maier and Hirscher

The Austrians Marcel Hirscher (34, first top 10 placement in the fourth race, podium debut in the tenth competition) and Hermann Maier (51), who won the Super-G in 1997, had a similar start to von Allmen in the premier class of skiing Garmisch made his tenth World Cup appearance and came second.

One of Von Allmen’s greatest admirers is his old “Herminator” companion Hans Knauss (52). “During the Lauberhorn races it became clear to me that Franjo has the potential for a truly great career,” says Knauss. “After finishing 14th in the shortened descent of Wengen, Von Allmen fell so hard in the Super-G that at that moment I was sure the season was over for him. Instead, Franjo rose to finish 14th again in the original descent the day after. Only the really great can do something like that.”

What distinguishes a trained carpenter? Knauss: «Franjo reminds me a lot of Beat Feuz. They both have something you can’t teach: a great sense of skiing.”

Marco Odermatt is also enthusiastic about the development of the three-time vice world junior champion in 2022. “If he had not missed the goal during the second descent in Kitzbühel shortly before the goal, Franjo would most likely have been on the podium there.”

What he still needs to work on

What area does the Boltiger need to improve in? “Franjo should continue with his fitness training so that he can take another step in this area,” Odermatt advises. Von Allmen is aware that he still has room for improvement in this area. When he met Italian fashion athlete Christof Innerhofer, 39, in Beaver Creek, Von Allmen said with a wink: “If I wanted to advertise underwear like Christof, I would have to get my body in better shape.”

Source : Blick