Although only two slalom podiums: “The potential of the team is huge”

“We as a coaching team believe that the potential of the team is huge,” said Kroisleitner. However, that is “unfortunately not on paper”, as the Styrian admitted. After the Nightrace in Schladming, Manuel Feller is still the only podium finisher with two second places – from Kroisleitner’s point of view not enough.

You can keep up with everyone, Kroisleitner was convinced even before the race on Tuesday. This is reflected in the result lists, apart from the Feller podium finishes in Val d’Isere and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but not yet. Marco Schwarz got two sixth places and was once seventh, the highlights in Kitzbühel and Schladming went completely wrong for him.

In addition to five retirements, Johannes Strolz took twelfth place from Wengen and 16th place from Schladming. Eighth place was the highest of feelings for Fabio Gstrein, ninth place for Adrian Pertl and 15th place for Michael Matt.

Weak results

“We are not satisfied with the results, but we are with the process,” said the 44-year-old Kroisleitner. “I’m convinced that anyone can finish in the top ten and we have some who can even compete at the front.” Sometimes the starting position was not ideal. “If you review the last races, you can already see at certain times that people ski very quickly. ‘Blacky’ (Schwarz/note) unfortunately picked number 15 twice, in conditions that were difficult with the number .”

Photo gallery: Joy and disappointment at the Night Race in Schladming

view gallery

In training, Strolz is consistently among the fastest within the team, but fails to implement it in the race. “He knows his strengths, he knows how to ski fast. The difficult thing is just that he focuses on that because there are definitely a lot of other things on his mind.” The story of the Olympic champion will definitely continue, Kroisleitner asserted. “I think moments like that only make you more human.”

In Schladming Strolz had a good feeling after the initial nervousness. “I had a good focus and actually started the second race confidently,” he said. “I have a guess as to what it could have been. I think that I hit the track once at the top gates and then got peak loads in the momentum. It just doesn’t work.”

Duo is seeded for the World Cup

The two remaining Austrian slalom starters for the World Championships in Courchevel/Meribel – Feller and Schwarz are de facto set – remain open for even longer. Several aspects would play into the selection process. “I’m assuming that a large part of the team is generally there with other competitions,” said the coach.

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Alpine skiing

Noel won night slalom in Schladming – Feller fourth

SCHLADMING. Clement Noel won the Schladming Alpine World Cup night slalom on Tuesday evening.

Noel won night slalom in Schladming – Feller fourth

“Two years ago it was only decided in Cortina who would be the fourth man at the start.” At that time it was Pertl, who prevailed against Gstrein by trainer’s vote – and promptly won silver at the World Championships.

In any case, no decisions would be made before the last slalom in the World Cup countdown on February 4 in Chamonix. In the last race before a major event in particular, “things turned around in the past where many believed it would be the team,” said Kroisleitner and was optimistic: “We are in good spirits that we will show in the near future what we can.” The World Championships would be a good opportunity in that sense.

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