ÖSV results crisis

“Cramped”: Pfeifer disappointed with technical team

Marko Pfeifer is hoping for better results in the new year.

(Bild: GEPA )

The Austrian men's ski team is going into the short Christmas break without a World Cup win this season. Although ÖSV head coach Marko Pfeifer praised the performance of returnee Marco Schwarz and Manuel Feller, he doesn't want to paint the devil on the wall, but more needs to come from the rest of the technical team.  

The technical team in Alta Badia was far from being able to change that. Stefan Brennsteiner was 14th in the giant slalom on Sunday as the ÖSV's best, Manuel Feller was seventh in the slalom the following day. The gap between last season's overall discipline winner and the Norwegian winner Timon Haugan was almost two seconds. And the World Championships are approaching.

Praise for "Blacky"
Six weeks before the home title fights in Saalbach, the red-white-red fans are getting impatient. After an injury break of almost a year and a comeback in Val d'Isere and Alta Badia, Marco Schwarz still needs stability to make it into the top ten in more than just one run. "He hardly has any training days," explained ÖSV head coach Marko Pfeifer. "His first runs were fabulous. We hope that he will achieve results in January, then Blacky will get there."

Marco Schwarz in the giant slalom in Alta Badia

(Bild: AP ( via APA) Austria Presse Agentur/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Manuel Feller finished seventh in the slalom, the only ÖSV top 10 place in the Alta Badia double, as did Stefan Eichberger in sixth place in the downhill on the two previous days in the speed events in Val Gardena/Gröden. Pfeifer: "Felli was solid. Certainly not what he is capable of, but okay after two retirements." The Tyrolean athlete himself spoke of "damage limitation" due to a stomach virus and back problems. His skiing was not the yellow of the egg. "Now it's time to train, mobilize, move - get the whole thing halfway under control."

Manuel Feller

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Feller takes new year for a fresh start
However, he is now tackling the rest of the season with a fresh start, just like after the end of the season. "I'm going into January with full motivation and anticipation," said Feller. "We'd rather stumble now than in January and February. I am convinced that as a team we will make the Austrian ski fans cheer. We will do everything we can." Pfeifer has a similar view: "We mustn't bury our heads in the sand, now it's time to analyze. We hope to get off to a good start in the new year and have a good World Championships."

The coach was not so satisfied with the rest of the technical team recently. "The successes have been a bit lacking, and that makes us tense. You can see that especially in these difficult races. If you're not completely relaxed and free, then you miss the hundredths and tenths." He was a little disappointed with the second row, as there was too little attack and willingness to take risks. "But these are the people who will provide a lot of joy this season. I'm convinced of that."