David Mach, former junior world champion in Nordic combined, is one of the great hopes in the DSV team. In his column on sport.de, he revealed how the athlete experienced the start of the season.
As a “renewing” World Cup player in the combined team, I’m happy to take on the task of going out the door and fetching more wood for the fireplace in the living room. Chimney? residential hall? Yes, these are the ingredients of modern living from the German combined team at the start of the World Cup in Kuusamo, Finland.
The whole team, consisting of seven combiners, lives in a gigantic log cabin with a living room from which the individual rooms lead – a thoroughly family atmosphere where everyone really gets along well.
Each of the established players has collected many titles in their sporting life, nobody has to prove themselves, everyone has respect and there is a strong sense of community and team spirit.
When you step out of your room, you are already in the circle of the most important World Cup experts, who are loudly commenting on the performances on the pitch and, above all, on the referee’s decisions. If you have had enough of it, you go back to your room – it’s a relaxed togetherness.
A few steps away from our log cabin is another log cabin, here in the grove, which is the most important element for survival in the Finnish wilderness. Between the athletes’ hut and the coaches’ hut is our culinary wooden temple, where our chef Uli Rupprecht conjures up really good food.
The start of the World Cup is behind me. I am very satisfied with the 12th best run time in the 5km prologue, unfortunately I was a bit behind at the jump. The hill in Kuuusamo rarely forgives mistakes, especially since the inrun is short.
The 42nd place was the result that cannot be compensated significantly even with a good run. But now it’s your turn, and above all, I’ve whetted my appetite for the next two competitions, which really offer a first assessment of where we stand: a Gundersen competition with a 10 km run and a mass start with a 10 km run as well.
I’m pleased with my mileage, as I had to deal with infections in the preparation phase, which prevented me from continuously building up. But in the final phase of all training sessions I was able to show myself well, which also led to my nomination for the start of the World Cup.
I lie in my room and think about the ski jump. Not much is missing. I believe I can place in the top 20 in jumping. That would be an excellent starting position for the competition, which I’m really dying for.
I’m highly motivated for the competitions ahead of me and I want to reward myself!
Best regards
David Mach