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In slalom, Michael Matt wants to change the trend after last season’s botch. The Tyrolean slalom specialist did not make the podium last winter. Seen from this perspective, the particularly long preparation for the season came at just the right time for Matt.
“Last year was really a disaster. I don’t want to talk much more about it, it was crazy, “said Matt, who doesn’t like to look back. Instead, the training focused on problems.” Now I feel much more confident and stable, and with good speed. So you can be right in front, ”said the 2018 third-placed Olympian optimistically.
The last slalom winner in Val Badia was Marcel Hirscher in 2011. Adrian Pertl was 15 years old at the time. The now 24-year-old from Carinthia is Austria’s current climber and although he comes from Marco Pfeifer’s slalom group, he will also compete in the giant slalom on Sunday.
“I drove a race together with Marcel in Schladming. But we never train together, I know him mainly from television, ”Pertl said of the resigned from Salzburg in 2019, who also won the giant slalom six times in the Big Laughter.
The giant slalom remains a problem area
His “successors” have so far not been able to make up for Hirscher’s absence, on the contrary. At the “Gigante”, Schwarz’s 14th place in Santa Caterina is currently the best result of the season. The issue was heated recently with a statement from ex-runner Hans Knauß, according to which Hirscher had set the fastest times in the series during their surprising joint race training at the Reiteralm. “Marcel was one of the best in the world and sometimes he was three seconds ahead a year ago. He won’t have forgotten everything in a year, ”said Schwarz. “But I focus on myself.”
The Austrian coaches have prepared for the traditional Italian series on the Schladming World Cup track and more recently at the Weissensee. The passages to master in Alta Badia and Madonna were specifically trained.
“I am in good physical shape. That’s the most important thing if you want to stay at the level of the World Cup, ”said Matt. There is no international comparison, but internally it was consistently fast and safe on the road. “But of course there is always some uncertainty in the first race.”
Long wait for the first slalom
Slalom runners’ “backwardness” is due to coronavirus-related calendar planning. Driving the first slalom just before Christmas is “fun,” says Matt. “We took advantage of the time,” said the Arlberg man, who worked on his trunk problems and also advanced with the material. “In terms of the set-up, the skis now feel shorter,” said Matt, who has reduced his giant slalom ambitions.
In any case, it’s time to finally start running. The slalom specialists, where three-quarters of the races take place in January, also face an unconventional season. “So long to wait for the start, and then in six or seven weeks it will be almost over, it’s a little strange,” says Matt.
Schwarz adjustment after CoV disease
Schwarz is already one of the ÖSV’s great hopes in Sunday’s giant slalom (10 am or 1:30 pm, live on ORF1). “Without a mistake, I would have done well at Santa Caterina,” Carinthian said. “Driving right in the front would be a little too high. But without mistakes I have the top ten. “
Despite having overcome the coronavirus disease, three races in three days are not a problem for him, Schwarz said. “In terms of air, I have no restrictions. I’m ready and I like when things go fast. ” He especially likes going back to Madonna, the place where he was his first podium at the World Cup (third in 2015).
Pertl does not push himself
Pertl is happy with the start of the season, which among other things brought him to Zürs in fourth place. He missed a best RTL start number with a “zero” in the second Santa Caterina race. “So it’s again to show the performance with a high number.” In the giant slalom he hopes to be in the top 30, in the slalom his situation is fun. “I only got two results and they were good. Now many expect it to continue like this. ” But he does not pressure himself. “I would be satisfied with the top 15. In slalom, 30 races for the podium.
