Sportschau expert Felix Neureuther looks at the DSV season in winter sports podcast and talks about the talent Felix Rösle and Benno Brandis, the breakthrough of Emma Aicher and role models from which Germany can learn.
Sports show: The DSV season had a few ups and downs. The men’s speed team had great difficulties, but there is a new hope, Felix Rösle, who recently become a junior world champion. Where do you see him in the coming years?
Felix Neureuther: First of all, you have to say that we have two junior world champions in the speed area. Felix Rösle in the departure and Benno Brandis in the Super-G. It’s great that we have two junior world champions again. That gives hope for the future, but you just have to give the boys time, it is not yet that the next year will attack fully.
What I saw at Benno, for example, at the Super G final: the guy already has a lot of potential. I think it is strong in all four disciplines. Its strongest discipline is actually the slalom from the points. But it can drive giant slalom, super-G and departure. We haven’t had anything like that in Germany for a long time that one is simply good over four disciplines. You have to promote it specifically and bring it up very quickly so that he can train with better ones. He has a lot of potential.
Felix is more of a emotional skier, and you urgently need that in the departure. He also has a lot of potential. I am really excited: in two, three or four years, if you develop properly – then we have two really hot iron in the fire.
Neureuther about Aicher: “I am incredible for you”
Sports show: Benno Brandis can drive four disciplines, for women it is Emma Aicher, who also drives all four. There were always discussions: Is that too much, is that too early? And then she caused a surprise with her first departure victory in Kvittfjell. Would you have expected it to explore it before the season?
Felix Neureuther: I spoke to Andreas Puelacher, head coach of the women, before the season. I had seen her in preparation and then said to Andi: Halleluja, on one or the other departure it will be difficult to beat her. And then Andi said: Felix, hundred percent.
The woman brings things with it, she is so fast that she is already winning World Cup races. I think you couldn’t see that so that it develops so rapidly in the speed area. I am incredibly happy for you because, as already mentioned, she drives all disciplines. The program is extreme. It is actually the only one in the complete World Cup that drives this program.
She loves skiing. She loves that. The joy that you can see while skiing, regardless of whether it is the short or long turns. It is of course one that will give us a lot of fun in the future.
Sports show: Would you attribute it back to her age that she can win a descent and be able to leave the next day?
Felix Neureuther: Yes, that’s normal. This should not be overestimated that it leaves the day after. She is 21 years old. You also have to give time. It is great that she can win races and drive onto the podium. It is only at the beginning and will still develop, become even more constant. I prefer that someone drives quickly and sometimes on the podium, but it also separates as if someone is permanently 15. Better like the Emma than the other way around.
Sports show: In the past two years it has also got a lot of pressure because the performance has failed to materialize. Was that a breast removal for you now?
Felix Neureuther: It is still so young. As I said: give time. If someone can handle pressure, then you. You do not have the feeling that it affects or affects it. She pulls her thing through. That is also the nice thing with her, it bounces everything. It can handle pressure situations extremely well.
Straßer’s sign with a view of the Olympic Games
Sports show: Linus Straßer had a difficult season, but then got the World Cup bronze in the slalom. What did this medal mean to him?
Felix NeureutherOf course, winning such a medal is very important and good. Above all: Until then, the Linus has not won a single medal in the event of major events, then of course there is a lot of talk about it in advance. The pressure that you then build on it yourself. That you say: okay, it’s time to win a win.
I also know that myself from my own experience. It’s not easy. The fact that you did that then is a very great satisfaction.
2017 in St. Moritz: Felix Neureuther fetches World Cup bronze in the slalom
It was extremely important for the German Ski Association that we won this medal. And also for Linus, with regard to the Olympic Games (2026 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, note d. Red.). It was a sign for him that he can win a single medal if he has major events.
Sports show: How do you explain that nations such as Norway or the Swiss top drivers can produce in alpine skiing? At the DSV you have the feeling that there is a top driver and a top driver – and that was the first time.
Felix Neureuther: Of course, this is also due to the logistical requirements. The Swiss have the mountains at the door. In Norway you can feel skiing all year round.
The Swiss have also built up a structure in the past 15 or 20 years that is extremely good. You can only pull the hat off there, they are so well positioned. And the Norwegians, you have to imagine: they only have five million inhabitants. And they don’t just win in skiing. You win the biathlon, in cross -country skiing, but also win in athletics, in the Golf, have one of the best footballers of this planet in Erling Haaland in Tennis Casper Ruud. What this small country has in a width of competitive athletes is incredible.
Overall, there is a health culture there, even in the way the children grow up there – in the kindergartens, in schools. They do not specialize for a sport that early, but are broadly positioned. They then decide at the age of 13, 14, one can choose from five sports. If you want to do it in terms of performance, you will be well and properly encouraged.
With us in Germany you feel like you are specializing in a sport at eight or nine years because you want to be very good very early. This thinks that the children can only be good later, even if they are good early – that is not true in the form. That’s why I always say, please, dear parents or trainers, just let the children do several sports.
The entire interview with Felix Neureuther with topics such as his work as a TV expert, the comebacks by Marcel Hirscher and Lindsey Vonn as well as curious history from his World Cup period are available in the complete podcast episode on Thursday from 5 a.m.