In the near future, various World Cup classics are on the program for ski racers.
In preparation for this, Simon Jocher was in action on the local Kandahar.
Schongau / Garmisch-Partenkirchen - ski lovers won't get their money's worth in the current lockdown winter.
On the contrary: nothing works.
The lifts in the Free State are still.
For all.
Or rather: for almost everyone.
At least until last Sunday, top athletes from the women's and men's teams of the DSV trained on the Kandahar.
Nadine Kapfer from Peitinger, who started for SC Garmisch, missed the training on her own doorstep.
Instead, the 20-year-old competed in two Super G races in Zinal (Switzerland), finishing in 29th and 41st place. Meanwhile, club colleague Simon Jocher from Schongau held up the Werdenfels flag during the practice runs on the Kandahar.
The 24-year-old recently celebrated his best World Cup placement to date in Bormio (Italy) with 15th place in the Super-G (we reported).
Simon Jocher trains on the Kandahar
Preparations for the home competitions at the beginning of February are in full swing.
But the competitions on the Kandahar are by far not the only highlights that Jocher and his teammates at DSV will face in the next few weeks.
Previously, the downhill skiers would actually have stopped in Wengen, but the two downhill runs on the Lauberhorn scheduled for Friday and Saturday and the slalom on Sunday were canceled.
Coronavirus infections had recently increased in Wengen.
These races will now also be held in Kitzbühel.
The absolute highlight of winter follows three days after the races in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: the Alpine World Ski Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy).
In view of the tight program over the next few weeks, the training drives for the DSV drivers came at just the right time.
“It's a rarity.
Of course, it's a lot of fun being able to train at home, ”emphasized Jocher.
The Schongauer hopes that the practice runs will give him an advantage in the event of an emergency at the beginning of February when important points in the World Cup are involved.
“Of course you get a better feeling that way, you know the route.” And that is sorely needed from Jocher's point of view.
“The Kandahar is always a little underestimated.
Like the Streif in Kitzbühel, it is an extremely difficult descent. "
Simon Jocher remains in the "corona bubble"
So close to home - and yet so far away.
Jocher also had to forego the pleasure of being able to sleep in his own bed during the training days in front of his doorstep.
He did not leave the corona bubble.
Like his colleagues, he also slept in the "Riessersee Hotel".
However, that didn't really bother the 24-year-old.
"The feeling of home is still there."
Markus Anwander, head of the Olympic base in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, should also feel this during the rides of the athletes.
The fact that you can train at all in this Corona-plagued winter is already a success for him: "I would like to expressly thank the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn (BZB) again that everything went so smoothly." The entourage arrived at 7.30 a.m. every morning Transported to the top with the Kreuzeckbahn, the operation opened especially for the speed elite.
The preparation of the slope for the BZB turned out to be hard work.
But the reason was not lack of snowfall, the white background was available in sufficient quantities.
Rather, inconsiderate tourers disturbed the preparation several times.
Finally, the municipality of Garmisch-Partenkirchen closed the affected section of the slope for the duration of the DSV training.
In order to ensure everyone's safety, in addition to the safety fences and warning signs - which are often no obstacle for onlookers - some DSV trainers were also positioned at various points along the route.
And the system worked, as Anwander emphasizes: "Except for a few small discussions, the people were understanding and took a different route." The athletes were able to work on the subtleties undisturbed during their journey.
They complete their rehab program in the afternoons at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen winter base.
Regeneration runs could be made not far from the hotel on the Riessersee.