"I often thought of quitting ..."

Second place in the parallel slalom, second place in the team competition - for Cheyenne Loch, 26, from Schliersee, it was the most successful week since she made her debut in the Snowboard World Cup ten years ago.

Our interview with the lucky late starter.

• Her talent was recognized early on - now Cheyenne Loch has stepped out of the long shadow of Selina Jörg and Ramona Hofmeister for the first time.

• At the World Cup, if it takes place, the slalom specialist wants to make up for something.

• Exciting vita: Born in Italy - because my parents had a surfing and sailing school on Lake Garda.

Cheyenne Loch, have you finally made it to the top of the world?

Loch:

There has been a certain consistency in my performance, which is why I think you can say that.

Lately I've shown time and again that you can count on me, also in the qualifications.

Are you particularly proud that you have left the top stars of your association behind you, Ramona Hofmeister and Selina Jörg?

Hole:

Pride is the wrong word.

I train with both of them, so we always take turns with the best times.

It's always good to have good people around you.

You push each other, that's a big advantage.

The two of them also told me quite often how happy they were for me - and that it was time.

Why was it that you had to wait so long for the breakthrough?

Hole:

I didn't really start in the World Cup until 2014/15 - and then soon continued with a lot of bad luck with injuries.

In the last four years alone, I've had four surgeries - and almost three complete comebacks.

Physically and mentally it was a great strain.

What kind of serious injuries were they?

Hole:

Two cruciate ligament tears - sometimes with complications, where more frequent surgery

The last operation was on the ankle last year, a complicated ligament-muscle story.

Her career got off to a promising start - with six medals at the Junior World Championships.

Did you think about giving up in between when you were often injured and missed the Olympics in the last meters of 2018?

Loch:

Yes, the thought of quitting was there very, very often.

I wasn't close to it just once because it was all getting too much for me.

At the end of the day there was always something that kept me on the snowboard: people who believed in me, friends, family, trainers, doctors, physios.

A major result had to be canceled with the World Cup in Russia, but there may be a substitute host: Bad Gastein.

That would be a good omen, wouldn't it?

Hole:

At least during the week I showed that I can drive quite well there (laughs) - even though I hadn't figured out the best chances beforehand.

In general, it's always stupid when a major event is canceled - and with the World Cup, I still have an unfinished business.

The bill from Park City in 2019, when you finished 21st in the giant slalom?

Hole:

Exactly.

That was really the worst race of my career.

Arrived with huge expectations, the chances were really good - and in the end it was a complete zero.

I guess I just wanted it too bad.

I would like to make amends for that.

What would you dare to do if there was still a World Cup in March?

+

“I would trust myself to win a World Cup medal”: Cheyenne Loch, 26, from Schliersee.

© FIS

Hole:

Definitely a medal.

I have the skills to get one now.

Three more questions that arise when looking at your résumé.

First: the birthplace of Riva on Lake Garda.

How did it come about?

Loch:

My parents had a sailing and surfing school there - that's why I spent the first five summers of my life there.

When I then had to go to school, my parents decided to go to the ski and snowboard school at Spitzingsee.

Second: How did it come about that you carried the championship trophy to the Wolfsburg stadium at the 2015 DFL Supercup?

Loch:

There was a Sporthilfe campaign: “Top-class sport connects”.

I received a call and was asked if I would like to carry one of the trophies onto the lawn - of course I said yes.

Because I was the only Bavarian, it was the championship trophy.

I'm happy if Bayern wins, but I wouldn't call myself a real football fan.

Third: In your official profile, you state extraordinary hobbies: cooking, cleaning, ironing.

Are you serious?

Hole:

Actually, it was a joke.

The question was what I did during my quarantine - that they would write it straight in.

.

.

Well, I don't hate doing housework, but I wouldn't call it a hobby.

It was actually a joke.

Cheyenne Loch on her alleged hobbies of cooking, cleaning and ironing.

Her place of residence is Schliersee, a corona hotspot that has just been closed.

As a professional athlete, how badly are you affected by the 15 km leash?

Hole:

Not so much.

Our job is to travel around, fortunately there are special permits.