A good 15 years ago, German cross-country skiers were among the world’s best, after which there was a long period of drought. Now the team is on the way back to old successes. There are reasons for the upward trend – and they are not just due to training.
No, training alone is not what makes German cross-country skiers so successful this season, says national cross-country skiing coach Peter Schlickenrieder in the Sportschau interview. The pride still resonates given the recent results at the World Cup in Lahti. There were three German podium places to celebrate in Finland.
Trust is the basis of success
The returned success has many roots. “Trust is the most important thing,” says the former top cross-country skier, for whom the team spirit is above all else. “Everyone helps each other get better. The team is growing closer and closer together”explains the Bavarian.
Schlickenrieder includes everyone in the team. Trainers, supervisors, athletes, waxers, physiotherapists, office assistants. “We support each other to become better at what we do. Good understanding between each other is the crucial point”the 54-year-old is convinced.
The success proves team player Schlickenrieder right. The upward trend is clearly visible. The German cross-country skiing team has already celebrated 13 podium places this season, as well as second place in the overall ranking of the Tour de Ski for Friedrich Moch. The DSV aces also finished in the top ten 40 times.
Hennig – not by a long shot Solo entertainer more
The best thing is that success is spread across many shoulders. In recent years it has mostly only been Katharina Hennig who has provided rays of hope. “There are now four girls who are ensuring success and delivering world-class performances”, says Schlickenrieder happily, adding Hennig, Victoria Carl, Coletta Rydzek and Laura Gimmler. Carl celebrated her first World Cup victory in the individual over 10 kilometers in Trondheim.
The team sprint Olympic champion from Thuringia also finished on the podium in four other individual races. Hennig climbed onto the podium twice in the individual event and took second place in the team sprint with Gimmler. Rydzek recently sprinted to silver in Lahti, which was a complete surprise. And in the relays, the German teams are regularly guests on the podium – and not just for the women. The men around top man Moch also recorded a top team result at the start of the season with third place in Gaellivare.
If there is always only one top performer, it would be more difficult to keep the others in line, says Schlickenrieder, who is completely happy with the current development: “It is important and nice to see that something is happening that we have been fighting for for a long time. We need everyone and everyone to become sustainably successful.”the coach makes clear.
Worked on technique and strength
In the last few years, which weren’t always easy due to the lack of success, they have consistently continued on the path, have turned “every screw that they can” and worked a lot on their technique and strength. Stability and strength training are now a daily ritual for Hennig, Moch, Carl and Co. The coach goes into detail about this, which is necessary in order to implement the technique. In addition, it is “Work with science significantly intensified” says Schlickenrieder, who hopes that the upward trend will continue at the last three World Cup stops in Oslo, Drammen and Falun.
“The mood is good. You can feel that in every meeting,” says the coach, who is only relying on a mini team on Saturday (March 9th, 2024) and Sunday (March 10th, 2024) in Oslo. Friedrich Moch, Katharina Hennig, Victoria Carl and Katherine Sauerbrey will tackle the long edges over 50 kilometers. “We are lean because we only use the athletes who are suitable and have a good chance of getting through well.”
The times when the German cross-country skiers were just “hopping along” are over; when the DSV runners are at the start, anything is possible. Thanks to team spirit and cohesion.