Interview with ÖSV star

Manuel Feller: “Constant stress for the skull”

Manuel Feller finished in the top five in all eight slaloms this year, winning four.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Manuel Feller can already put a tick behind Kristall on Sunday in Aspen. "The sooner the better," says the Tyrolean.

With three technical weekends still to come, the ski season is entering the hot phase - especially for Manuel Feller. The slalom crystal is ready for collection and is set to become the symbol of a dream season at the home finale in Saalbach: four victories, six podium places, always top five in the slalom. "I'm very happy - now I just have to carry it through to the end," smiles the Tyrolean. Before today's giant slalom in Aspen (6pm and 9pm), he also spoke to the "Krone" about ...

• the US Tour: 
  It's good advertising for skiing because it's evening races at home, so we also have good viewing figures. Palisades Tahoe was tremendous, top organization, top hotels, great slopes, side events for free - what more could you want? There was nothing to complain about.

Feller after his triumph in Palisades Tahoe

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

• the race calendar with four technical weekends in a row: 
  That's the other issue. For skiers who ski slalom and giant slalom, it's almost a bit reckless. This year they've already been presented with the bill earlier anyway with all the injuries. But with jet lag, you have to do five races within nine days, then go home and straight on to Kranjska Gora and Saalbach - anyone who has planned this has certainly never raced themselves.

• his expectations of Aspen: 
  We drive half an hour to the race slope, it's all a bit more elaborate here. In terms of the slope, it will be a rather dry story - I will certainly have two or three set-up variations ready. That was also the case in Tahoe, where I benefited a lot from having skied the giant slalom beforehand. And from a sporting point of view, it wasn't too bad.

• thoughts about the slalom globe: 
  Until Schladming, it wasn't on my mind at all. Because I wanted to win the home races and would have gone for victory anyway. After that, it became more difficult mentally. With Chamonix, where I know that it doesn't suit me, the flat hill in Bansko and then Tahoe, where the slope hangs away to the top right and my left turn is certainly the less good one - that was probably the most difficult race, especially mentally. Also because Linus (note: Straßer) had such a good run in the first run - I wasn't really allowed to drop out. So it was one of my strongest races this year, which I'm very proud of.

• the wish for a bullet fix as soon as possible: 
  Yes of course, the sooner it's over, the better I'd like it (laughs) - it's a permanent strain on the skull, especially with jet lag and changing snow conditions, it gets very tiring straight away. I know that I have to stay focused at all times. But I've managed that very well so far and will continue to do so. It would be nice to be able to ski one or two races completely free. But on the whole, I want to show the whole world why I have the red jersey anyway. And show that I'm the fastest slalom racer in the world.