This weekend the ski season starts for Simon Jocher too.
The Schongauer focuses on his tasks.
Schongau
- Focusing on yourself and step by step, this is how ski racer Simon Jocher wants to approach the 2020/21 season.
He leaves Corona and its special regulations and requirements to the people in the background.
The Schongauer's thoughts belong to the skis, the technology and currently the first Speed World Cup in Val d'Isère this weekend.
The summer training was actually quite normal, except that the usual trip to Chile had to be canceled.
But since November, due to Corona and the various worldwide lockdowns, alpine racers have been around.
Spontaneity and flexibility are required.
Not a big problem for Jocher, who starts for SC Garmisch.
“If I know a week before the first race, that's easily enough,” he said calmly in November.
Because the speed drivers in particular are used to the unexpected.
"Even in the race, there can be a start-stop at any time if the weather is not right or the helicopter has to come."
Like the other speed specialists, the Schongauer learned to ignore these things and to focus on himself in these moments.
"That helps a lot even now in these uncertain times." He also has another advantage in his view: "I am young, have no children, long-term planning is not that important." So it was not a problem for Jocher to travel spontaneously to Copper Mountain (USA) for training in November.
US champion in Super-G
The German Ski Association was able to organize this trip for its speed team despite Corona.
“There were probably some exemptions and an invitation from the USA,” says Jocher.
The organization took place in the background, the athletes only packed their things and appeared at the airport.
"There we had a strange feeling for a moment that we were being exposed to an increased risk," admits the 24-year-old.
“But the plane was so empty that everyone had a row of three to themselves, then everything was totally relaxed again.” Once in North America, the mandatory tests followed and then the team moved in a privileged bubble.
“We had two houses just to ourselves and were only among ourselves at the chairlift,” says Jocher.
In addition, there were regular corona tests according to the US rules of the game.
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Simon Jocher from Schongau.
© Peter Kornatz
The training conditions were excellent for the Germans.
"In Europe, it is always difficult to do good speed training in November due to the weather and the routes," says the sports soldier.
“In Copper we had a track the length of a race with jumps and everything that goes with it.” Jocher and his speed colleagues also competed in the US championships: two Super-G races and two descents under racing conditions.
Especially in the Super-G things went great for Jocher with first and second place.
In the downhill he sees room for improvement in tenth and fourth place.
The 24-year-old is happy about the victory in the Super-G: “It is really cool to become the US champion in the Super-G.” He still struggles with concrete season goals.
“Logically I want to finish in the top 30 in the World Cup, but I think we have to take everything from race to race this year.” The first thing this week is the Super-G and Downhill in Val d'Isère (France).
The order of the competitions was changed at short notice.
The Super-G will take place on Saturday (10.30 a.m.).
The descent follows on Sunday, for which two test drives were completed during the week.
Jocher landed in 49th and 30th place. "Simon did all the preparation with the team and performed well," says men's national coach Christian Schwaiger.
"It is now important for him to gain experience and get to know the World Cup routes."
Thoughts about the next generation of skiers
How exactly the World Cup will go in France, Jocher lets come.
He has updated his FIS passport, the most important requirement for starting in Corona times.
“The trainers will then inform us about further requirements.
My job is to make sure my skiing and my technique are right. ”But even if Jocher knows that he can and must concentrate on himself, the current overall situation of winter sports is already preoccupying him.
“For the youngsters, the different regulations in training operations are a disaster.
I can understand anyone who is critical of our trip to the USA because their own child is at home and is not allowed to ski.
A fair solution would be really important. ”And that everyone should show consideration and avoid unnecessary contacts.
"At the moment, I only see my parents and my girlfriend," says the Schongauer responsibly.
If everyone takes on this, hopefully soon it will no longer just be the top athletes on the slopes.
BY KATHRIN EBENHOCH
