Legends call the problems: Red alert for Austrian skiers

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

Starting from the 1988/89 season, Austria has won the national alpine skiing championship 30 times in a row. Switzerland could only break this dominance in 2020/21. Since then, the title went to Austria only once: the previous season with 10,667 to 10,410 points.

The Austrian top skiers are currently 1195 points behind Switzerland with 21 races remaining. One reason for the delay: lack of results in men. Legends and those involved mention the problems by name.

It starts with posterity. Ex-driver Armin Assinger (59) calls for a reconsideration within the association in the program ‘Sport&Talk from Hangar 7’. And draws the comparison with Swiss-Ski. “According to the motto of the best trainers for the boys, the Swiss apparently work better than us.” As an example he mentions Franz Heinzer (61), who takes care of the stars of tomorrow.

It is essential to deal with it. It is important to “manage well the talents we undoubtedly have”. Michael Walchhofer (48), 2003 downhill world champion, agrees with Assinger in the broadcast. “We need the best trainers downstairs.” Austria is certainly not lacking in this: approximately 60 are trained every year. According to Austrian Alpine sports director Herbert Mandl (62), the problem is that they also have to have a main track.

A new approach is also needed when it comes to training options. Assinger complains about the lack of a training center. And Mandl adds: “We always depended on the goodwill of the mountain railways to be able to train.” This results in a lack of training time, which needs to be increased. “We need to extend ski times, especially as the season gets shorter.”

What Walchhofer also notes: “The Swiss drive in a good mood – that can also be a problem for us: we only see the problems.”

In fact, you can see time and again how the Swiss rejoice and feel sorry for their teammates. Norwegian legend Aksel Lund Svindal (40) recently raved about the team structure. «A young athlete like Franjo von Allmen will grow even faster thanks to such an excellent team captain like Odermatt. Marco will pave the way for many Swiss to reach the top of the world.”

The Austrians continue to struggle with injuries, especially in terms of speed. “We have many athletes who have raced together, who have already been through so much and have to struggle their way back to the front,” says Assinger. It takes time to get back on the road to success. There’s just a lack of patience in this area these days. “Everything must be done immediately.”

Only at the penultimate opportunity was the first downhill podium place achieved thanks to Vincent Kriechmayr (32). Yet head coach Marko Pfeifer is not satisfied. “With the exception of Vincent, our established athletes are increasingly losing weight and our drivers from the second row are 26 or 27 years old and are therefore no longer among the youngest!” he grumbles. And adds: “We have an outdated downhill team.”

They have hopefuls in their mid-twenties who can fill the void when the old guard steps down. But with a few exceptions, they lack a few injury-free years to become acquainted with the World Cup routes with a permanent starting place. “We need downhill miles to get better,” Pfeifer says.

Source : Blick