Things are looking up

Schwarz: “I missed that on the couch”

Step by step: Marco Schwarz is getting closer to the absolute top again. He came seventh in the Wengen slalom.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

The big break also failed to materialize in Wengen.But Austria's slalom team got into position for Kitz and Schladming.Marco Schwarz is growing in confidence and Manuel Feller knows: "Now it counts."

Six racers in the second slalom round - Austria's men took home at least one "victory" from the Lauberhorn yesterday. Otherwise, the wait for the first success of the season and the wait for the first slalom podium of the winter continues. The next opportunities are at home: Kitzbühel and Schladming are on the calendar! Manuel Feller's eyes are also shining, as after two failures (Madonna, Adelboden) he was back in eighth place in Wengen. "I can achieve the goals I set myself this winter in the coming weeks. It's all about now," says the Tyrolean, who wants to make his mark on the Ganslernhang in Kitz and then at the home World Championships in Saalbach. The last jag to attack again in typical Feller style and bring it to the finish is still missing. "But everyone around me is trying extremely hard. It's definitely up to me to put that into practice now!"

Manuel Feller knows that he has even more to offer.

(Bild: AFP/APA/Marco BERTORELLO)

"Spirited performance"
The best Austrian on the Lauberhorn was Marco Schwarz in seventh place. A blunder in the final before the flat section prevented an even better result. "But it's definitely going in the right direction. It was a spirited performance, I had confidence in my skiing, it was really fun again." Despite the physical problems (knee, back), Blacky is soaking up the January classics to the full. "That's exactly what I missed last year when I had to sit on the couch and watch."

Schwarz is convinced that the absolute top placings from our slalom squad are only a matter of time. "I don't want to diminish any performances. But nothing out of this world happens at the top - we can do that too. In our sport, a lot happens in the mind, we are perhaps still missing that last bit of ease."

Wengen winner Atle Lie McGrath experienced "one of the best days of my life".

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

Norwegian tears
Unfortunately, it was a slalom to forget for Johannes Strolz and Christian Hirschbühl from Vorarlberg - both were eliminated in the first run. Hirschbühl ("That's doubly bitter") finally got his chance again after a break of four slaloms, but now he will probably have to take part in another team-internal qualifier before the home races. After the Swiss home victories on Friday and Saturday, the Norwegians cleaned up in grand style in the slalom yesterday: triple triumph! "This is definitely one of the best days of my life. A victory in Wengen and another two Norwegians on the podium, it doesn't get any better than this," said Atle Lie McGrath with tears in his eyes.