On the descent on the Matterhorn, one runner in particular wants to take revenge for a rather messed up last season: Kira Weidle starts with great ambitions.
“It’s starting again and I’m really looking forward to the start of the season – even if the weather forecast, like for the men, looks a bit difficult,” says Kira Weidle in a press release from the German Ski Association (DSV) before the start of the season for female speed riders Zermatt-Cervinia.
Last weekend the men were supposed to complete the historic first two-country downhill run at the same location, but the double event had to be canceled due to heavy snow. Now the downhill skiers are hoping for better weather luck. However, their route “only” takes place on the Italian side of the mountain – the women’s first training run on Wednesday was canceled due to the weather, and the weather forecasts for the next few days are different.
Kira Weidle “is ready after disappointing days”
Kira Weidle hopes that the departures will take place on Saturday (11:35 a.m., live stream) and Sunday (11.45 a.m., live stream) will take place in Zermatt-Cervinia: “I’m ready – but the question is whether Cervinia is ready for me 😉 . Of course I’m very excited about the new route, even if you’re on the men have already gotten one or two insights.”
After a rather disappointing last season, the Munich native from SC Starnberg wants to be at the top. She made it onto the podium twice, but at the World Championships in Méribel the 27-year-old was unable to repeat the greatest success of her career: only eighth place for the 2021 vice world champion, not enough for her expectations. “There were a few disappointing days last year,” summarizes Weidle.
Weidle wants to “exhaust the limit”
After her fall at the World Cup final in Soldeu, the Stuttgart-born woman was self-critical in an ARD interview: She had made too many “stupid mistakes” and promised to correct her mistakes, work on her aggressiveness and become a little more creative. In the summer, Weidle specifically addressed these topics: “It was about working even more meticulously, using 100 percent of every day, pushing myself to the limit and pushing that limit to the limit. That was the motto for the preparation,” reports the 27-year-old.
And Weidle has big plans for the coming season: “The first World Cup victory,” she says, “is still at the top of my list,” but in fact, she adds, “the ball is the big goal.” Weidle wants to win the Downhill World Cup – she would be the first German since Katharina Gutensohn in 1990. The first location assessment would be on the “Gran Becca” slope on the Matterhorn.
The DSV squad for Zermatt-Cervinia
Emma Aicher, Nadine Kapfer, Kira Weidle, Roni Remme, Kathrin Hirtl-Stanggaßinger
The racing program for Zermatt-Cervinia
Thursday, November 16th, 11:45 a.m.: Training
Friday, November 17th, 11:45 a.m.: Training
Saturday, November 18th, 11:45 a.m.: Women’s departure
Sunday, November 19th, 11:45 a.m.: Women’s departure
Source: Blickpunkt Sport
November 18, 2023 – 11:45 a.m
