Emma Aicher is considered the greatest German ski talent. Her start to the season was disappointing, but Aicher is now getting better and better. Will the knot burst on Tuesday?
After a messed up start to the World Cup winter Ski racer Emma Aicher is getting better and better on track. Turning point may have been her bitterest moment this season. Will there be a peak on Tuesday?
Emma Aicher is considered the greatest German talent in alpine skiing. One that can do everything. One that drives in all disciplines. Someone who can one day win the big crystal ball for the overall World Cup. Of course that is “a dream and a goal“. The fact that some people talk about her as a “child prodigy” doesn’t sit well with the Swedish native. The next time is on Tuesday (January 21, 2025, from 10:25 a.m in the live stream and live ticker)
The early praise for the 21-year-old from SC Mahlstetten is still high, despite an unsatisfactory start to the World Cup winter. In the first five races she failed to finish three times. Often because she risked too much.
Tears of Krajnska Gora as a turning point?
Negative peak then in Krajnska Gora at the beginning of January. Aicher was eliminated from the slalom in a promising position after just a few goals. At the finish she was in tears. It would have been her first podium finish in what had been a rather messed up season up to that point.
But again it didn’t work. But Aicher seems to have gained new strength from this low blow. Although she was eliminated in the following downhill race in St. Anton, she sent a sign of life with 17th place in the Super G.
She finished in the top ten at the slalom in Flachau (8th) and the Super G in Cortina d’Ampezzo (10th). “I just skied normally. Sure, you can always get more out of it, but I’m satisfied“, said Aicher at the ARD microphone after the races in the Dolomites, happy about her best result of the season in this discipline.
Three disciplines “great stress”
Aicher currently seems to be able to stabilize in Super G and Slalom. Only the descent remains a problem. Here, too, she set a new record this season in Cortina. At 31st place, she is well behind her results in the other two disciplines.
Aicher is one of the few ski racers who still competes in all three disciplines. “It’s a big burden to race every weekend“she admits.”In January we also have Flachau and Kronplatz during the week.“
If you analyze her performance, you would almost suggest that she give up the downhill so that she can concentrate on Super G and Slalom and improve them further. Quite a few believe that it is only a matter of time before Aicher is on the podium.
In shape in time for the World Cup
The next opportunity to do this will be at the slalom in Kronplatz on Tuesday (live in the stream from 10:25 a.m.). After the speed races in Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the weekend and the slalom in Courchevel at the end of January, the highlight of the season is coming up: the Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm from 4th to 16th. February.
It will be Aicher’s second World Cup participation. In 2021 she won bronze in the team competition in Cortina d’Ampezzo. This time she also wants to fight for the medals in the individual and seems to be in improving form at the right time. You will”Definitely keep doing what I’ve been doing and then we’ll see what happens“.