interview
DSV sports director Horst Hüttel speaks in the Sportschau winter sports podcast about German tour hope Pius Paschke and a new starting position for last year’s runner-up Andreas Wellinger.
Sports show: Mr. Hüttel, how much are you looking forward to the Four Hills Tournament?
Hüttel: We are always happy. I see it as a privilege to take part in such an event with our team. Especially in times like these, which are not so easy for many people, we are happy to bring a little variety into the living room. Of course, this winter also gives us enough reason to look forward to the tour from a sporting perspective.
Sports show: Pius Paschke currently leads the DSV team with five wins this season. Are you sometimes surprised at how strong it is this winter?
Hüttel: The whole story of Pius is something special. I’ve been working in this association in this role for 16 years now – and we’ve never had this before: an athlete tries for many years and tries to get everything out of it, but then at the age of 34 certain things just fall into place. Although you also have to say that he has been very good in recent years and even very good at certain points. But the current consistency is of course impressive.
Sports show: What do you attribute his increase in performance to?
Hüttel: I think that a certain maturation process has taken place here. He has brought in people to help him in a number of areas. He also became a father last year, which helps him enormously, he is very settled. Assistant coach Andreas Mittler, who lives not far from him in Salzburg, plays a significant role. There are many things that contributed to this. But the focus is on himself. We as an association can provide framework conditions, but the athlete has to find the way himself. And something happened to him.
Had a good laugh this winter: Pius Paschke
Sports show: Are you worried that, with all this success, he will start to think a little about the big Four Hills Tournament and therefore stumble?
Hüttel: No, we are not afraid. Of course, we also know about the special attention and the special challenges of the tour. It will be exciting to see how he and those around him react to this. But fear is never a good companion. It comes as it comes. We will do everything to ensure that his flow continues like this. And then we’ll know on January 6th (End of tour, note d. Red.) more.
Sports show: What do you expect from the other athletes on the team?
Secondly, Andy Wellinger should be mentioned. He has already won a World Cup this season and was actually the dominant athlete on the team over the summer and fall. You should definitely have it on your bill. Karl Geiger has also been on the podium this season. Pius is not alone, we are well positioned. Not as good as Austria, they are even more compact as a team and can rely on more athletes. We are still in a good and comfortable starting position.
Andreas Wellinger celebrates in Ruka at the beginning of December
Sports show: Is it an advantage for Andreas Wellinger not to be as much in the spotlight this year as he was recently?
Hüttel: He has to take the situation as it is. Of course he would prefer to be in the position Pius is in now. But he takes it absolutely great, accepts and respects Pius’ achievements. We have a great team structure. It’s hard to say whether the reduced focus on him is an advantage or a disadvantage. I wouldn’t see it as a disadvantage that he now has more peace in advance than if he had won five wins.
Sports show: When your athletes are successful, it is noticeable that the other jumpers are excited to join in the run-out. A sign of team solidarity?
Hüttel: Absolutely. This has really grown enormously this year. Regardless of whether we win the tour or not, it’s incredibly fun to work with this team because there’s a lot of energy and a willingness to push for each other. This includes not only the athletes, but also, for example, the physiotherapists and the team doctor. It really succeeded in pursuing a common goal with great harmony. These are things that have to grow, they cannot be artificially created and brought into the team somehow – and of course Stefan Horngacher (Coach of ski jumpers, note d. Red.) huge share.
The entire interview with Horst Hüttel with topics such as the positive development of the Nordic combined or the current heights of ski jumper Katharina Schmid can be found in the Sportschau winter sports podcast.