The Wörther stick shooter takes care of training and tournaments.
Wörth - Felix Karpfinger is currently quite at a loss.
“I'm totally in the air at the moment,” says the 16-year-old stick shooter from Wörth.
The U16 team European champion actually wanted to prepare for the European championships in 2021 in long distance shooting.
But on the one hand, training turns out to be more than difficult.
On the other hand, it is not yet clear whether and when the title fights will even be held.
A look at the calendar of the German Ice Stock Association (DESV) does not bode well.
Almost all competitions are crossed out in the overview and given the addition “canceled”.
The only exceptions: the German mixed championships in Stuttgart on the first weekend in March and the European championship distance competition, which are scheduled for the weekend of February 19-21.
"Actually, they should have taken place in Austria, but because there is nothing sporting there, they have now been moved to Ritten in South Tyrol", says Karpfinger.
“The national trainer said that as a precaution we should ask at school or at work whether we can leave there.” He must ask at work and at school, says the nanny in the second year of training.
“In the end, it's only about a Friday - it should work,” he hopes.
However, there have not yet been any definitive nominations.
Even if the 16-year-old has to compete in the U 19 for the first time, he is certainly hoping to be there, as he is European team champion and fifth in the individual competition in his U 16 age group in 2020, as well as German individual champion and winner of the Max-Aicher-Cup series as well as Bavarian runner-up.
Training was the last thing, reports the 16-year-old, who switched from his home club SV Wörth to SC Oberhummel last year.
"Because of Corona, the normal stick shooting training almost didn't work," states the Wörther.
His coach at SC Oberhummel, Florian Kloiber, whose son Maxi also shoots, would have liked to practice with the young boys more often, "but it's just difficult when you're only allowed to meet one person".
Team training was therefore no longer possible, and now and then he practiced with Maxi Kloiber.
Effective long-range shooting was almost no longer possible, says Karpfinger.
He usually trains in large parking lots.
"But nothing works in Oberhummel," says the 16-year-old, "and the screening point is now in the parking lot in front of the Erdinger football stadium, where I used to practice."
Certainly there is the possibility to practice in the parking lots of big discounters.
“But that's just not possible during the week and is actually only possible on Sundays.” Among other things, he has already shot at the HIT and Rewe parking lots in Erding.
Most recently, he chased his stick up and down the parking lot between the swimming pool and the ice rink in Erding.
That went very well, he says, since both sports facilities are closed and consequently hardly any cars can be found in the large square.
Felix Karpfinger is now waiting to see whether he will be nominated for the EM - and whether it will take place at all.
However: "I can only wait to get a message that I am nominated, until then I will continue to train so that I am prepared." WOLFGANG KRZIZOK
EM was moved to
South Tyrol
No effective
long-range shooting
