Many highlights

Successful coach leaves association after nine seasons

(Bild: Maurice Shourot)

"It's difficult to find the right time to stop," says Martin Lackner. The Salzburg native, who found his love in the Ländle and has been responsible for Vorarlberg's female youth skiers for the past nine seasons, is not talking about his athletes, but about himself. 

"My children are now eight and eleven years old and I've realized that I want to spend more time at home again." In other words, the 46-year-old will no longer be available to the Vorarlberg Ski Association for the coming season. Time to look back. "There have been many highlights for me during this time," reveals "Lacki", "although it's not easy to single out individual ones. Lea Lipburger's Austrian Junior Champion title in the giant slalom, when she raced to victory on the Hochjoch in March 2021 with bib number 38, was certainly very special." He was also particularly pleased for Vanessa Nußbaumer: "It was really cool that Nessi, as a national squad athlete, managed to secure a place in the World Cup in winter 2020/21 as third in the European Cup downhill ranking."

Departure with mixed feelings 
A total of 15 Ländle girls made it into the ÖSV squad during Lackner's era. Not a matter of course for a federal state that is significantly smaller than Salzburg or Tyrol. "It won't get any easier in the future," says Lackner. "We have fewer and fewer young talents. What's more, the standard has generally dropped across Austria. What's more, there are fewer and fewer training facilities and it's becoming increasingly difficult to find the volunteers needed for this sport."

Lorenzin to forge Swiss talent
Lackner, who would like to continue working in the sports sector, is not ruling out a comeback. It remains to be seen who will succeed him on the coaching staff of the Vorarlberg Ski Association. One potential candidate, Marcel Lorenzin, has already withdrawn. The 42-year-old from Montafon will take over the men's C squad of Swiss Ski for the new season and will be responsible for introducing talented athletes to the World Cup.