Alpine Skiing World Cup in Val Gardena: where's the big hit?

The German downhill skiers feel good in the shadow of the Sassolungo, at least that's what they say, and they have often enough confirmed that in the race. During the Christmas season, wonderful and surprising things happened on the Saslong. The victory of Max Rauffer or that of Josef Ferstl five years ago, for example. In 2019, Thomas Dreßen was the last German to stand on the podium at the World Cup races in Val Gardena. Oh yes, Dreßen. One day after his announcement that it looks good with a comeback, but not as fast as hoped for in autumn and that the Olympic Games will definitely take place without him, the rest of the German team at the Super-G proved how much the draft horse is missing despite the successes at the Alpine World Ski Championships last winter.And that it is sometimes uncomfortable under the Sassolungo.

Especially for Andreas Sander and Romed Baumann, who were still the orientation points for the German team in the North American races and who secured a ticket for the trip to Beijing. On Friday they had to give way to their colleagues in places 18 and 20. Josef Ferstl in eleventh place, a good second behind winner Aleksander Aamodt Kilde from Norway, and Simon Jocher in fifteenth place now followed suit, after all they managed part one of the Olympic standard. “I'm really having fun skiing again,” said Ferstl, who has had two weaker winters behind him. “It was a solid ride.” Jocher, who is still in training in his second full World Cup season, at least achieved his best result in the top competition class on Friday.

Nevertheless, another impression prevailed, namely that no German made it into the top ten. In general, the world's elite once again pay attention to the downhill skiers in the white ski suits with the black stripes. But things are a bit tough this season, and not just because of the failure of the only winning driver. Dreßen was also absent last season, because of a hip operation. He came back to the World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo, but then had to undergo an operation on his knee. The cartilage was defective, and on the one hand building a new one is tedious and, on the other hand, success is uncertain. Dreßen seems to have succeeded, "the hard work and, above all, the patience have paid off," he said. But this season his colleagues still have to do without him, who has won five downhill runs in the World Cup.

Less potential for errors on the descent

Last winter it worked really well with Baumann and Sander winning World Cup silver in the Super-G and in the downhill.

But expectations have risen, both internal and external.

They changed every year, says Sander.

But of course, "now they are bigger".

The joy was therefore restrained when he swung off with starting number 15 on Friday and the "5" lit up on the display board.

Those who start early in the race rarely have an advantage in Val Gardena over athletes whose turn it is later.

“There will definitely be one or the other coming,” he knew.

"That wasn't the Andi I know."

With a fourth place in Beaver Creek earlier this month, Sander achieved the best result for the German men this winter.

That's good, but not good enough anymore.

"We are still in the process of finding it," says head coach Christian Schwaiger.

"The bang is missing." He means a podium place.

"It's hard work to get to the top," says Baumann, "but it's at least as hard to stay up."

He should know if he has already experienced these ups and downs in his career.

Three years ago he was kicked out of the squad in Austria after moderate winters.

Baumann fought his way up again after changing nationality, and he wants to stay there for a while, despite his mature 35 years.

In no case should one “rest on successes.

The others are also hungry. "

This does not only apply to the athletes, the team around them also tries to “find the last grains”, as Schwaiger says. The racing suits have been optimized, the ski testing has been perfected, as has the fine-tuning of the material. A lot of tinkering and testing takes place in the technology center under head technician Chris Krause. And the coaches let work on the start last. In preparation for the cross-country skiing hall in Oberhof, they practiced ice-skating steps, also with cross-country sticks, “to feel how the combination of leg and arm strength works,” explained Schwaiger.

The start went quite well on Friday, but the final section caused a few difficulties.

When leaving the Ciaslat, all Germans failed with the exception of Ferstl.

Baumann believes that the potential for errors at this point is not that great when descending on the same piste on Saturday.

"It just goes straight down there."