Do we have a problem with ski offspring?

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Switzerland, skination number 1! No country has even come close to so many points at the World Cup. And you also swung like a spear at the World Cup. Young people are needed to keep it that way in the future. But that’s exactly where things don’t seem to go well for women — at least on the surface. In the European Cup, the racing series under the World Cup, the Swiss are only number 3 in the world.

Austria completely dominates, hoarding almost 2500 points more than the Swiss. In comparison, the Swiss men are 3520 points ahead of the second-placed Italians, they are by far the strongest country. The Swiss women are also doing poorly in the overall European Cup standings: with Mélanie Meillard (9th), Delia Durrer (12th) and Stephanie Jenal (19th), only three are in the top 20.

What’s happening there? Walter Reusser, the Swiss Alpine Director, explains: “Last season we were able to secure five regular World Cup places with Aline Danioth, Juliana Suter, Simone Wild, Vivianne Härri and Delia Durrer, and Jasmina Suter also scored many points in the Europe Cup . These six athletes accounted for 51 percent of the European Cup points. This year they were mainly used at the World Cup or, like Jasmina Suter, got injured. Because of that focus, they were only used sporadically in the European Cup and this year they still scored 27 percent of the points. » There was a kind of generational change. “We have many young athletes, especially those born in 2004, who took part in the European Cup for the first time this season and have already had great success. The goal here was to improve in the start list. These athletes are not getting the big points yet, but they are in a great position for next year.”

Reusser criticizes: ‘Otherwise it will be difficult’

So everything in butter? Not quite. There is also criticism from the boss. “There are some riders who have already gained a lot of experience but now have to take the step to the top 5 in the European Cup. Otherwise it will be difficult for them,” says Reusser. What he means by that: It is not allowed to enter any number of riders in the World Cup, there are contingents from the FIS. And because Switzerland is broadly positioned in almost all disciplines, the athletes who move up must secure a permanent place in the European Cup.

What that means: At the end of the season, you need to be in the top three in the individual standings. “This is the only way they can get used to the World Cup in peace and get to know the routes and procedures.”

Better a break than an injury

The alpine director emphasizes that one should not worry about the offspring. At the Junior World Championships in St. Anton last February, the Swiss women even cleaned up and won five medals, four of which were won by Stefanie Grob (18) from Appenzeller.

Reusser: “We don’t want to burn our young drivers either. If we notice they are tired in the winter, we give them a rest. They don’t like it and that means we get less points, but in the long run it’s better risk an injury.”

Source : Blick