The alpine season traditionally begins with the giant slalom in Sölden. However, the anticipation for the opening event at DSV is limited.
The World Cup circus is on tour again. Alpine skiers traditionally set up camp for the start on the Rettenbachferner in Sölden at the end of October. Even though winter hasn’t really arrived there yet, two giant slaloms are being run. The women’s race takes place on Saturday and the men’s race on Sunday (from 10 a.m. in the live ticker at sportschau.de).
However, this discipline in particular has been the problem child in the German Ski Association (DSV) for a long time: “It won’t be a particularly attractive start for us“, says Alpine director Wolfgang Maier. “We won’t play any role in these races in terms of the podium or the top five.”
The DSV is missing its best driver at the start
There are at least four starting positions available for men. But the last best giant slalom driver in the DSV team, Alexander Schmid, will be missing due to injury. He was reliable last season until he tore his cruciate ligament in March. The Allgäu native finished in the top ten in five giant slaloms. At the World Championships in France, the 28-year-old then achieved gold in the parallel race. At the peak of his career, the technician was stopped by a torn cruciate ligament.
His hope that with the comeback “until Sölden works out”, has long since disappeared. The next giant slalom in Val D’Isere at the beginning of December is now the focus for Schmid. “In any case, that is my plan and my goal, that I will be there at the start.”
Top performances last winter
Schmid at least takes away the self-confidence from last season “Everything with me. I was in top shape”. Five starts, five times in the top 10″and of course the title. That’s already giving an impetus“. And “The injury doesn’t necessarily get me out of track now”.
Because it’s a winter without a real highlight like the Olympics or World Cup, the full focus is on every World Cup. “Because I just want to pick up where I left off. That is my goal.” The 29-year-old from Oberstdorf wants “Definitely aiming for the podium places again.”
Brunner: “We would like to have a good start”
After veteran Stefan Luitz is also out until further notice due to a broken ankle, 25-year-old Anton Grammel and 26-year-old Fabian Gratz move into the front row and can show their current potential. Discipline trainer Bernd Brunner hopes that they will now “take the next step. That has to happen this year. We’re working really hard on it. Sölden being in the top 20 would be a benchmark“. After that, consistency is required so that the starting number continues to drop.
Alpine director Wolfgang Maier is certainly optimistic: “(Anton) Grammel doesn’t drive badly and (Fabian) Gratz doesn’t drive badly. You never now“. And added: “Of course I would be very happy if we got one of the men into the 10 and one into the 20“.
Looking for the new performer
While Schmid provided positive experiences for the men last season, there was disappointment for the women. Not a single DSV starter made it into the second round of the giant slalom. “We simply didn’t perform well enough with the women,” Maier sums it up.
However, the crisis is not new. Viktoria Rebensburg achieved the last major German success in this discipline. The now 34-year-old from Upper Bavaria won Olympic gold and two World Cup medals in the giant slalom. Since her resignation in 2020, there has been a huge gap in the technical discipline.
Only one starting place: The decision is between Hilzinger and Aicher
What is also sobering for the DSV is that there is only one starting place for the race. Whoever drives will have to choose between Emma Aicher and Jessica Hilzinger.
So that it doesn’t stay that way, “Now you have to make sure that you get two or three starting places as quickly as possible“, says women’s national coach Andreas Puehlacher. “The goal must be to be in the top 30“, then there will be second place on the grid.
After all, Brunner is with the 19-year-old technician Aicher and the 26-year-old Hilzinger “satisfied with the development in the giant slalom”. And admits at the start: “But you also need a bit of luck with the slope and the high start number“.
Time of ripening and reinstallation
Alpine director Wolfgang Maier can at least draw positive things from the situation. Because in a World Cup season that takes place without the great pressure of success of a World Cup or Olympics, there is also the opportunity to reposition yourself. “We now have a season without major events, which gives us a bit of breathing room to attract one or two of the boys. To prepare the team so that we are properly positioned for the next three major events“.