Snowboard crosser Martin Nörl is making his comeback at the World Cup in Cervinia this weekend. There, where he celebrated his first major success, but also suffered a serious injury a year ago. The anticipation is still unbroken.
Martin Nörl doesn’t beat around the bush at all. “Cervinia“, says the best German snowboard crosser,”is special for me.“The 31-year-old celebrated his first World Cup victory in the winter sports resort in the Italian Alps in 2018, where he was on the podium three more times – more often than anywhere else. But on December 14, 2023, he fell badly there, broke his left ankle and was canceled for months – until now: On Saturday, Nörl celebrates his comeback, exactly one year later – in Cervinia.
Rocky road to a comeback
“The food, the pre-Christmas atmosphere and of course the route: I always enjoyed driving there and that’s still the case“, says the Lower Bavarian and emphasizes: “I dealt with the fall. I don’t have the images in my head when I’m standing at the start. I’m just happy to be back.”
The way back was long for the two-time overall World Cup winner. After his serious mishap on the starting straight of Cervinia, Nörl underwent two operations and struggled through rehab. The World Cup runner-up has been back on the board since August and now he is ready for the next step.
Nörl won the overall World Cup in 2022 and 2023.
Nörl brakes Expectations
“The trust in the body is there. Everything feels stable“, says Nörl, but he confesses: “Of course I miss the routine. I get easily thrown off course, especially in the heats against other athletes.” And that’s a problem: snowboard cross is a tough fight man against man.
“For this reason“, says Nörl, “I’m curbing my expectations in the first races: I’m not back to 100 percent yet. The goal is to concentrate fully on the qualification first.“It starts on Friday and the knockout heats go on Saturday.
High-flyer Ulbricht also attacks again
With Nörl, the two-time junior world champion Leon Ulbricht, who celebrated his first World Cup victory in March, also gets involved. After recovering from a cold and taking a break from training, the 20-year-old feels fit again and wants to attack. “I like the route, especially the long gliding section where you have to put all your energy into the board.“
The German contingent in Cervinia
Women: Jana Fischer (SC Löffingen)
Men: Martin Nörl (DJK-SV Adlkofen), Leon Ulbrich (SC Rotteln), Paul Berg (SC Konstanz), Leon Beckhaus (SC Miesbach), Kurt Hoshino (SC Sonthofen), Niels Conradt (SC Dingolfing)