The late summer in mid-October spoils the average consumer with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. But not everyone is flattered by these unusual conditions.
The “heat wave” massively affects the training of the ski stars. Two weeks before the start of the season Marcel Hirscher swims in evil.
“Hopefully we will soon be able to train to a high standard. Otherwise Sölden won’t be a nice race, because all of us together aren’t ready for this huge challenge,” Marcel Hirscher warns the crown.
On the glaciers in the Möll and Pitztal valleys, intensive work is being done to create top training conditions. However, the weather has pushed the efforts to their limits.
“At the moment you have to take care that you don’t break more than you can get in training,” says Manuel Feller, who will try his luck with the other ÖSV technicians in the Pitztal starting Monday.
The situation is naturally even more precarious for the speed gear, which requires considerably more space for its training. The ÖSV delegation is therefore currently moving to Switzerland. In Saas Fee, “a halfway sensible training with one or the other long curve is possible”, says Vincent Kriechmayr.
Fortunately, there are still a few weeks to go before the speed specialists get serious. The hopes of the downhill racers are therefore on the North American training, which will start on 7 November and take place in Copper Mountain. “That’s where everything should fit. We want to put the finishing touches on a successful winter,” says Matthias Mayer.