"This is how skiing is vulnerable": ex-ski star Felix Neureuther criticizes the early start of the season

Created: 10/22/2022, 9:15 am

By: Thomas Jensen

Felix Neureuther doesn't mince his words when it comes to criticism in skiing.

(Archive photo) © IMAGO / Ulrich Wagner

The Ski World Cup starts in Sölden in October.

But is starting early in times of climate change a wise decision?

Interview with Felix Neureuther.

Sölden – Felix Neureuther (38) does not hold back in his analysis as an ARD expert, nor with criticism of the powerful in skiing.

In an interview with our newspaper, the Garmisch-Partenkirchner takes a clear stand and looks ahead to the season.

Henrik Kristoffersen's first appearance with his new skis, produced by Marcel Hirscher, is eagerly awaited.

What do you think of the project?

I think it's really good.

It is important for the sport that a new arc of tension comes in.

Since Marcel (Hirscher) got someone like Henrik, everyone is curious how things will go.

But is it possible after such a short time that the new material is perfectly matched?

Everything is always possible.

But of course it's not easy.

The conditions are completely different at World Cup races, 300 people slip through in front of it, it's different from training.

Therefore you need experience, how you vote the material where.

They aren't quite there yet, but I do believe that they can manage it with the expertise in Marcel's team.

But of course: It takes time, you don't have to expect miracles.

Most is expected of Marco Odermatt, last winter's dominator - will he be the same this time?

The others will of course try to join, but it will be very difficult.

He still has so much potential and intuitively does so many things right.

That's awesome to see.

So he will be very hard to beat for years to come.

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Ex-ski star Felix Neureuther on the chances of the Germans at the Ski World Cup

To the Germans.

What do you think Stefan Luitz is capable of after his long break?

Stefan is no longer the youngest.

It's easier to cope with injuries when you're younger, because you worry less and can function again straight away.

Later on, it's not as easy for you to come back and push like it was before.

But Stefan comes very much through the use.

I wish him that to come back.

He has often shown that he has the potential to be a podium driver.

But the hottest iron this year is Alex Schmid in the giant slalom.

He has already shown how fast he is and must have been in great shape in training, from what you can hear.

The women's podium chances in giant slalom are significantly lower - what can the new head coach Andreas Puelacher do about it?

He's a great guy, I've known him for many years.

To work with the women we have, he's great.

The problem is that we don't have the breadth behind Lena Dürr, Kira Weidle and Emma Aicher.

The question is how much influence he can have on it.

But we have to do something so that we are broader and not dependent on individuals delivering again and again.

How can this happen?

Of course we have different requirements and will no longer have the breadth that the nations with better training opportunities have.

This mass of young people pushes each other.

With us it's not like five others taking your place if you let go.

Therefore, the unconditional will that you need is not encouraged enough.

It would be important to start with the youngsters who are really keen on skiing, then to encourage them more specifically and to have them train earlier with the top people.

Christian Schwaiger has already done it for the men and Andreas Puelacher will do it in a similar way, he simply knows his stuff.

Felix Neureuther and his wife Miriam live with their children in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Miriam Neureuther is now showing her offspring their "second home". 

Neureuther criticizes the new President of the FIS - an early start to the season makes skiing vulnerable

Another topic that has traditionally been part of Sölden: the early start on a glacier in times when the ice is melting faster and faster.

Are you optimistic that the world association will credibly face up to this problem at some point?

I'm not.

The new President of the FIS Johan Eliasch only sees the numbers.

Not global warming numbers, but wallet numbers.

He's looking to generate more funds, which means more races, more effort for the athletes and more injuries.

This great product skiing becomes so vulnerable.

When the argument then comes up that it is so important for the ski industry, all I can say is that in relation it does the sport far more harm than it might do.

Now, with Marcel Hirscher, there is a ski industrialist who recently spoke out in favor of questioning the early start of the season...

Yes, I was really happy about that, he would also be a beneficiary of a boosted ski industry.

In general, I like it when former athletes are in key positions because we know how racing works.

Unfortunately, this doesn't happen enough in the associations, where former athletes are avoided rather than encouraged.

I really hope that Marcel can make a difference.

What would be most important to you?

The calendar as it is is no longer up-to-date.

I don't have a problem with racing on glaciers, everything will shift further up anyway, but the timing is just too early.

Also: Does it make sense to train on glaciers from July and travel overseas for that?

Or now to push crevasses in for the descent in Zermatt in October?

Things like that make skiing vulnerable.

Interview: Thomas Jensen