High jumps and first points at the World Cup debut in Alpe d'Huez

Created: 12/25/2022, 8:00 p.m

By: Wolfgang Stauner

“Truckdriver” above Lake Tegernsee: Katharina Michl convinced the judges at the Europacup in Sonnenbichl with a backflip and grip on her skis;

in Wiessee she reached the placements five and ninth.

© Florian Schoellhorn

Katharina Michl from SC Bad Tölz completed her first Freestyle World Cup in Alpe d'Huez and scored World Cup points right away.

Bad Tölz - A bumpy piste, garnished with two ski jumps and on top of that the stopwatch that relentlessly ticks down the seconds - Freestyle is the perfect sport for the versatile skier and acrobat.

Katharina Michl is still a long way from perfection, as she says herself.

But with the 15-year-old mogul specialist, an unusual talent is growing up at the Bad Tölz ski club.

A few days ago, the girl, who is based in Gilching, celebrated her World Cup debut in Alpe d'Huez and crowned two courageous races - one in singles, one in parallel (duals) - with the first World Cup points.

DM: title and bronze at the Open in Hintertux

In November at the FIS Open in Hintertux, which also included the German Championships, there was no way of knowing that this season would be up against the international elite.

But the DM title in singles and bronze in duals were, so to speak, the door opener for Alpe d'Huez, because due to the good performance, national coach Anja Bolbjerg decided to take the teenager to the French winter sports resort.

It was actually only supposed to be a few training sessions here with the DSV team;

at best there was a start as a forerunner in the room.

But since the training runs were absolutely convincing for Bolbjerg - who used to be a multiple Olympic and World Cup participant for Denmark - the national coach quickly nominated the talent.

"I didn't expect that at all," reports Michl.

The trainer's requirement was "to bring a safe, clever run to the finish line".

Because even if the youngest had nothing to lose in the field, she definitely wanted to repay Bolbjerg's trust.

Now the jumps have more height

The three criteria that the seven-member jury uses to evaluate a run are smooth and safe skiing (60 percent), the execution and difficulty of the jumps (20 percent) and the overall running time (20 percent).

"That's my weakness," admits the high school student, who primarily shines with her clean driving style.

“I improved my jumps.

Especially at altitude.”

After a good start on the first jump, the newcomer showed a surprisingly high and wide back tuck, even for her, so that she had trouble getting back on track and getting into rhythm.

After the moment of shock she showed a solid ride and a mute grab as a second jump.

With this courageous run, she was classified as 20th.

Bolbjerg was so satisfied that she also let the Gilchinger start in the parallel competition.

Here she had as an opponent the American Tess Johnson, ninth on the current FIS list.

Michl courageously brought this run down as well.

As 22nd, she was even able to wrest two (out of 35) points from her strong opponent.

The European Cup tour begins in January

"All in all, it was a successful World Cup debut," sums up Katharina Michl.

"I'm grateful and incredibly happy that the trainer believed I could do it." Now the girl is looking forward to the European Cup tour that starts in January and will take her to Sweden, Finland, Germany, France and Switzerland.

The highlight of the season is the Junior World Championships in Airolo at the end of March.

"The main goal is to qualify for it," says Michl confidently.

She did that last season.

In Chiesa di Val Malenco she placed in the top ten twice (10th dual, 12th singles) and took fifth place in the newly created team competition together with Max Straub from the Allgäu.

also read

Solid performance at the start: Toni Lautenbacher was 27th at the World Cup in Aussois

READ

Food trend winter barbecues: simple, delicious, unforgettable

READ

Double victory in the German Cup secures the ticket to Davos

READ

Quickly away from the starting line: Easy into the final with changed tactics

READ

Ambition, goal hunger and talent characterize the Tölz young lions

READ

Fancy a voyage of discovery?

My space

Katharina Michl celebrated her World Cup debut in singles and duals on the steep slope in Alpe d'Huez.

© private