Linus Straßer fails in the first round of the night slalom in Schladming after being knocked out. The German then practices practical optimism, but cannot completely hide his frustration.
Linus Straßer has recovered after his exit in the first race of the Night slalom in Schladming Although he tried to focus on the positive aspects of his trip, he couldn’t completely hide his frustration.
Straßer served: “Now I’m going home”
“Now I’m going home”he explained in a cheerful but curt tone in an interview on BR at Blickpunkt Sport when he was asked whether he would watch the second round on site. Before that, Straßer had needed a few minutes to compose himself.
After a good start and the fastest time in the sector, the German fell behind after a driving error and was even eliminated a few goals before the finish. “It was still good to drive at the top”said the man from TSV 1860 Munich, but then the slope collapsed.
Straßer: “That was too much of a good thing”
The conditions in the later sections were much more difficult to cope with: “You then notice that the skis start to work underneath you and no longer move smoothly. You can’t get up to speed anymore. Especially after that. Exit steep slope, flat section all the way to the finish, you don’t get any speed.”
Due to these circumstances, Straßer tried “it over the line” to do what ultimately resulted in a premature end. The 33-year-old’s conclusion: “That was too much of a good thing.”
In the video: Neureuther and Schweinsteiger about reversing roles
Nightrace Schladming becomes “Start number race”
ARD expert Felix Neureuther was also amazed at the rapidly deteriorating piste conditions on the Planai, which had seemed excellent during the inspection hours before, and even spoke of a “start number race”.
Straßer was also surprised: “I wouldn’t have thought that when I saw it. But the joys and sorrows of skiing are so closely related, especially in slalom.”
Straßer looks ahead
Nevertheless, the third in the previous slalom in Kitzbühel didn’t want everything to be bad: “There were really good sections there again. I noticed, especially in the upper part, that it went really well.”he spread optimism.
The cards will finally be reshuffled at the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (February 6th to 22nd): “I see the Olympics a bit like Kitzbühel. I think Kitzbühel also went because it’s not just any race, it’s the one day when you want to be there. That’s exactly how I see the Olympics too. It doesn’t matter what came before or after. That’s just how I’ll approach the matter.”
Straßer’s plan for the Olympics? “Time with my children”
Straßer wants to use the time between the disappointing dress rehearsal and the start of the Winter Games in a week and a half to switch off. The plan? “Spending time with my children.”
Source: Blickpunkt Sport January 28, 2026 – 5:30 p.m
