Ski jumping: After ÖSV-Aus: Ex-ski-jump trainer Heinz Kuttin speaks now

Heinz Kuttin explained on Thursday after the season analysis with team leaders and supervisors in Innsbruck the reasons for his resignation as head coach of the ÖSV ski jumpers. “If you’re in a negative spiral, you can’t get out, so it’s good to draw a line now,” said the Carinthian. He left his professional future open for the time being.

Many points had come together, Kuttin said. “The way this season went, of course, was extremely difficult. We prepared pretty much the same way as last year, added a few points and afterwards it just turned out that some things were not the right way,” said the 47-year-old.

Then “a lot of public stuff” was added. He asked himself whether he still wanted to do that, whether he could withstand the pressure, still work clearly in this situation and stay on the case. “Those were the reasons why I said my future would look different,” Kuttin emphasized in an audio interview with the ÖSV.

Kuttin said that his four years of work had been an incredibly wonderful time. “If you could erase the last two months, it would be nice.” But he was also able to celebrate very nice success with the big team.

Also in this difficult season it was positive to realize that every athlete and every employee remained objective and yet humane in beautiful and less beautiful times. “We didn’t break up, although it was emotionally insanely difficult, because of course we’re not satisfied, because we often didn’t make the last step.”

The highlight was Stefan Kraft’s double World Champion title in 2017, Kuttin explained. This success will continue until 2019. “Because we have five starters each at the World Championships in Innsbruck and Seefeld. That’s the legacy I’m giving my successor, that was the highlight for me,” Kuttin stated. Now it is important for the team to approach the matter “with joyful courage” again. “I wish the best for every coach and athlete.”

Kuttin said that he himself wanted to regenerate first and get a clear head and then decide on his future. “I want to do something where I see there’s full fire. Whether this is something in ski jumping or in Carinthia or something else, you will see.”