Hello skiers!
Snowboard boss Andi Scheid would like to have his own home
Created: 11/22/2022, 4:45 p.m
By: Uli Kellner
Two defining faces of Snowboard Germany: Ramona Hofmeister won the overall World Cup three times in a row, Selina Jörg (right) left the big stage as world champion in 2021.
© Stefan Matzke / sampics
Happy Birthday Snowboard Germany!
A small association became a large medal factory within 20 years.
Our interview with sports director Andi Scheid.
Andi Scheid, what specific memories do you associate with November 22, 2002?
Scheid:
That was the day the association was founded – we were spun off from the German Ski Association and the German Snowboard Association was founded.
From then on we were self-reliant and independent, from now on.
How do you have to imagine that: A couple of snowboarders are sitting together and one says: Let's found our own association?
Scheid:
It wasn't quite like that (laughs).
That was more of a formal act. But none of those present at the time could have guessed where exactly it would lead.
20 years later it can be said that a lot has happened.
The veteran of Snowboard Germany: Andi Scheid, 51, once one of three coaches, today as sports director responsible for serial success.
© Stefan Matzke / sampics
You were one of the trainers at the time, responsible for the race area at the Berchtesgaden base.
Did you already receive a fixed salary or only sporadic fees?
Scheid:
It was a mixture.
At that time I organized the Kids Cup 50 percent as race manager, the other 50 percent worked regionally as a trainer.
At that time there were two snowboarders from Frankfurt who were admitted to the sport's elite boarding school.
That's pretty much how it started.
I got the equivalent of 1800 marks back then.
You couldn't make a decent living from it.
There was a lot of idealism involved.
How many employees were on the payroll back then and how many are there today?
Scheid:
At that time we were three trainers: Uwe Beier looked after the World Cup team, I looked after the youngsters, there was also an honorary trainer for freestyle – and a part-time position for organizational matters.
Little when you consider that we now have six coaches in each discipline, i.e. 18 to 20. And an office team as well.
But you don't have to think that the work has become less, on the contrary... (laughs).
also read
Maria Höfl-Riesch denies relationship with Florian Silbereisen: "Very imaginative report"
Ski dream couple no longer together: "We broke up"
Are you the only one who has been at the start in any capacity for the whole 20 years?
Scheid:
I'm actually the only one from the starting crew.
However, there are returnees who were athletes at the time and are now working as coaches.
Can one say that snowboarders' main goal was to free themselves from skiers' gloved hands?
Scheid:
Yes, but there were also pragmatic reasons.
Sponsors, a good public image.
Some had crossed over with the identity of the skiers.
People grappled with these issues and thought about it: how do you make snowboarding efficient while making life a little easier?
The main goal in 2002 was to break free from skiers' glove grips
But you stayed in Planegg all those years as a subtenant in the Ski House.
Willingly or in the absence of alternatives?
Scheid:
We're now a recognized sister association, I would say.
The substructure is the same, we are closely linked in many things: training facilities, elite sports schools, when it comes to snow.
It makes life easier in many ways, but gradually you could think about it, become even more personal - with your own Home of Snowboard.
There is this wish – and also initial considerations.
Indeed?
sheath:
Yes, of course.
You always have to see that the whole thing took place in reverse order.
We didn't go there back then and say: That's the identity of snowboarders in Germany.
No, the whole thing had to develop first.
Our own positioning, sporting success, our logo, our public image, our competitions – maybe even our fans on a small scale.
This is how we have developed our own identity over the years.
Snowboarding has always had something to do with freedom, which is totally true.
But when I'm a top sports association in Germany, the top priority is simply performance.
And very important: plan sustainably.
In other words: If we win a World Championship or Olympic medal today, it should be ensured that there will be opportunities and potential again in 2026 or 2030.
For the first ten years, the child still had the somewhat unwieldy name "Snowboard Association Germany".
That didn't sound very sexy.
What has changed with the renaming to Snowboard Germany?
We want to appear more modern, more progressive.
Snowboard Germany – that's just better.
Has more pep - and picks everyone up better, including the so-called wild, freedom-loving athletes.
Sports director Andi Scheid.
Scheid:
I think the values that we have defined for ourselves - they radiate better from the inside out.
We want to appear more modern, more progressive.
Snowboard Germany – that's just better.
Has more pep - and picks everyone up better, including the so-called wild, freedom-loving athletes.
We want to be a snowboard house for everyone.
It also works, we notice that.
Many who are organized in a club at a regional level - they are proud when they wear a cap with the Snowboard Germany logo.
Incidentally, people in neighboring countries also think it's really cool that we do our own thing.
You used to be on the mountain up to 180 days a year, but since 2018 you've had more of a desk job.
Which is more fun: coach or sports director?
Scheid:
Everything has its time.
I don't want to miss the time on the mountain, I really enjoyed doing it.
But I still enjoy my work a lot.
You're constantly learning, working towards a vision, even in a team.
It is a great incentive to put our child on more and more stable feet.
I couldn't say which I prefer to do.
When you work with such young people, you stay young yourself.
Are you ready for the next 20 years in a formative role?
Scheid:
If I live up to my own goals and those of the association, then I'm happy to do it.
But at some point you have to make room for younger people with new ideas.
Sometimes I would like it to be quieter, but sometimes not.
And what do you see as the biggest challenges for the future?
Scheid:
The energy crisis and climate change.
We want to still be practicing our sport in ten years' time - and that requires enormous effort.
We have to create awareness, develop alternative training methods, where you make yourself independent of the snow to a certain extent.
Our sustainability board, in which the athletes actively participate, can only be the beginning.