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Total World Cup titles could have been claimed by France and Slovakia, and though it was Switzerland atop the nations’ rating, Austrian ski racers surged to one of many group’s most profitable seasons in current instances.
Marco Schwarz, 25, Vincent Kriechmayr, 29, and Katharina Liensberger, 24, all discovered the velocity and maintained consistency in breakthrough seasons profitable world titles in Cortina d’Ampezzo in February, and topping these victories off with World Cup titles in March.
The unheralded trio’s accomplishment marked the primary time in 22 years that three Austrians claimed each world championship and World Cup titles in a single season. In 1999, Austrian greats Hermann Maier, Alexandra Meissnitzer and Renate Goetschl all triumphed at worlds in Beaver Creek, continuing to lift crystal globes in Sierra Nevada, Spain.
Overshadowed by headlines dominated by COVID-19 and revamped race and venue schedules, the Austrian Ski Federation and its athletes, considerably quietly, strung collectively an superior season.
“It’s all the time good to observe Matthias (Mayer), or Marco Schwarz and Manuel Feller – they’ve been fairly wonderful, so robust and it’s nice to have such teammates as a result of we’re pushing one another,” Kriechmayr tells Ski Racing Media, requested what went so nicely for the Austrian squad. “I feel that’s the explanation for the nice season for the whole males’s group.”
Along with their mixed two crystal globes and three world titles, Schwarz (thrid) and Kriechmayr (eighth), have been accompanied by Mayer (seventh) and Feller (10th), putting 4 Austrian males among the many prime ten within the general standings.
“We had the prospect to start out ski coaching final yr fairly early – we began in Could and I feel that helped us to compete fairly nicely this season,” Schwarz defined.
“It was an odd season due to the COVID scenario – we have been examined almost each second day,” stated the Austrian tech racer. “It was additionally unusual with out followers and workers round, however I feel we managed every thing very well.”
Gold medal haul in Italy
Kriechmayr overcame race postponements, schedule uncertainty and an unfamiliar monitor in Cortina, charging to world championship gold medals in each the opening super-G and downhill. He etched his standing in ski racing lore alongside legends Maier and Bode Miller as the one male racers to attain the world championship velocity double.
“The super-G was actually powerful on a brand new slope with a really troublesome course setting,” Kriechmayr stated. “It’s not simple to be the favourite after which make such a outcome.
“Two days later within the downhill, I didn’t anticipate the gold medal, however I used to be actually pleased,” Kriechmayr stated about his 0.01 second victory over German runner-up Andreas Sander.
U.S. Ski Workforce downhiller Bryce Bennett, a fellow Fischer model racer, summed up Kriechmayr’s quintessentially Austrian fashion and demeanor.
“Technically, for those who’re speaking about Austrian ski faculty perfection snowboarding, then Vincent Kriechmayr is the poster boy for that,” Bennett stated. “He’s simply technically excellent – he places in lots of work, is diligent and targeted about what he’s doing and it reveals.”
Schwarz stated he was impressed watching Kriechmayr’s consecutive victories, pulling off an upset over pre-race favourite Alexis Pinturault to win gold within the occasionally contested Alpine mixed.
“I had simply three days of super-G coaching and all of it labored out fairly nicely,” Schwarz stated. “In fact, it helped me that the slalom was very icy and never simple.”
It was the primary time at a world championship that Austrian males gained the opening three races.
Nonetheless, it was Liensberger who was Workforce Austria’s most sudden champion and brightest new star profitable each the parallel occasion (sharing gold with Marta Bassino) and the slalom, in a surprising upset over the often unbeatable duo of Petra Vlhova and Mikaela Shiffrin.
Liensberger, who captivated media with emotional responses about how she skis with ardour and all of her coronary heart, additionally took bronze within the GS.
Austria’s 5 gold medals have been two greater than rival Switzerland on the two-week championship.
Conquering Austria’s racing meccas
Kriechmayr and Schwarz’ stellar seasons mirrored each other.
Along with their mutual world and World Cup titles, each racers seized the second profitable races on the most hallowed Austrian venues – Kitzbuehel and Schladming.
Kriechmayr attacked Kizbuehel’s Streif to win a super-G by 0.12 seconds forward of Swiss Marco Odermatt on Jan. 25. The house snow victory elevated the Austrian into the World Cup super-G standings lead.
“It’s all the time particular to win in Kitzbuehel, it was my first time,” Kriechmayr stated. “In fact, the super-G doesn’t have the identical historical past just like the downhill, however for me it means lots.”
The very subsequent day, Schwarz as soon as once more adopted his Austrian teammate with an equally significant dwelling victory at a snowy Schladming night time slalom. Sixth after the primary run, Schwarz didn’t maintain again in run two and gained the celebrated race by 0.68 seconds forward of Frenchman Clément Noël.
“Schladming was actually cool for me this yr, but it surely was unusual with out followers,” Schwarz stated. “Usually, there are 45,000 followers cheering for us and this yr nobody was screaming.
However, I used to be very pleased to win Schladming. It made no distinction whether or not there are individuals there or not.”
U.S. Ski Workforce males’s technical coach Forest Carey assessed Schwarz’ expertise and talents on the racehill.
“He was trending this ‘great way’ a few years in the past, then blew out his knee within the Bansko mixed,” stated Carey. “He skis with a pleasant tall hip, which helps him hardly ever get into hassle.
“He is ready to generate velocity on simple sections of programs and ski error free on troublesome sections. It’s spectacular how he generates velocity with out ever getting juiced or jacked out of the flip. His Atomic set-up works very well for him.”
Three World Cup titles are higher than one
Kriechmayr clinched his World Cup super-G title when the season finale in Lenzerheide, Switzerland was worn out attributable to snow and fog, whereas three days later Schwarz sixth-place outcome, following a uncommon mistake, was sufficient for him to lock up the slalom title.
Schwarz’ finest profession season included two slalom victories and 7 podiums over 11 races. His 665 factors have been 112 greater than Noël.
“It was certainly one of my largest objectives to win this and to be a World Cup winner together with Marcel (Hirscher) and Benni (Raich), who have been massive idols for me is particular,” Schwarz stated.
Schwarz and Liensberger profitable slalom titles marked the primary time since 2007 that an Austrian man and lady claimed the self-discipline in the identical season. The final duo to perform it was Raich and Marlies Schild.
Kriechmayr attained two super-G victories and 4 podiums throughout six races. His 401 factors have been 83 greater than Odermatt.
“It means lots for me, after ending second thrice,” Kriechmayr stated about garnering his first super-G title. “To be on the highest of the super-G standings is a pleasant option to finish this unimaginable season.”
Kriechmayr additionally gained the downhill finale on dwelling terrain in Saalbach on March 6, 4 years forward of the world championship that will probably be held on the Austrian resort.
Loftier objectives subsequent season?
Might Schwarz make a official run at an general title subsequent season, contemplating his third place general end, albeit it 446 factors behind Pinturault? To have a shot, he would definitely want to spice up his GS outcomes and add super-G to the repertoire.
“I need to be extra aggressive in GS as a result of I feel GS turns are crucial and likewise make extra steps in slalom,” Schwarz stated. “If all goes nicely, then we are going to see if I race super-G.”
And what may it take for Kriechmayr to dethrone four-time downhill victor Beat Feuz subsequent season? The Austrian completed fifth within the self-discipline standings, 219 factors behind the dominant Swiss.
“Beat is unimaginable – he’s all the time on the rostrum and I might want to present my finest snowboarding each race, not only one, two or three races a yr,” Kriechmayr stated.
Keep tuned for Half 2 after we meet up with Katharina Liensberger.
Observe Brian on Twitter – @Brian_Pinelli
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