World Cup in Saalbach-Hinterglemm: Ski jewel Aicher: New hope for old shine

They would have preferred to send the Emma together with the Aicher to the team combination, joked Wolfgang Maier. Since this is of course not possible in this new format, Emma Aicher is now starting at the World Cup in Saalbach-Hinterglemm on Tuesday (10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m./ZDF and Eurosport) with Lena Dürr. A duo that has “potential for a medal”, as the sports director of the German Ski Association (DSV) finds.

Longing for success of once

Dürr, two years ago in the Slalom World Cup, has long since developed into a draft horse of the German team. The Aicher Aicher, who had a good twelve years, is the great hope for the future.

Not even her strong appearances and sixth places in the Super-G and on the departure at this World Cup have shown that the 21-year-old is a top talent. An athlete may grow up, which not only gives the DSV new successes, but also gives more radiance again. One that really arrives in the ski world. One that the association longs for.

“The Emma is a chapter,” said sports director Maier at half -time at the World Cup in Austria, in which the hosts and the Swiss were primarily allowed to cheer. When he talks about Aicher, the 64-year-old is noticeably fire. The experienced official witnessed golden times in German ski sports up close, for example in the Olympic victories of Katja Seizinger and Hilde Gerg in the 1990s to the triumphs of Maria Höfl-Riesch and Viktoria Rebensburg. He knows exactly what chances the young Aicher brings. Now it is important to continue to grind this jewel meticulously.

Without World Cup experience for the first World Cup

They recognized the great potential of the all -rounder in the association years ago – for the World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Aicher was allowed to join in without having previously contested a single World Cup race. She promptly contributed to bronze in the team event – and a year later even to team silver at the Olympics.

Your parade discipline is the slalom. And their basic technical training in the giant slalom may also be a trump card for the speed competitions. With a view to the departure, Aicher took a decisive step in her development, Maier said after the previous appearances at this World Cup. Now she seems to understand what is important. This feeling for the right turns and the right pace at the right moment that the pot drivers have – apparently Aicher is obviously developing better.

Medaille printing is a strain on the German team

The daughter of a Swede and a German has never been on a World Cup podium. Her best result so far was a fifth place in Kvitfjell’s Super-G almost two years ago. It is still too often. Aicher explained that she herself had traveled without any expectations for the World Cup in Austria.

Well, after the first week at the Zwölferkogel, she was “really, really proud”. She wanted to take the good skiing into the next races, the rest would come on its own. Maybe even the medal that would put so much pressure on the German team, according to sports director Maier? In the mini team competition on Tuesday, Aicher denies the departure, Dürr the slalom. Kira Weidle-Winkelmann forms a duo with Jessica Hilzinger.

Grew up in Sundsvall in Swedish

Aicher is still well known to the experts. However, unlike many of her competitors, she is still not looking for the public. Her interviews often last no longer than their trips. Aicher usually answers briefly and dryly, which is not meant unfriendly – but probably also due to a language barrier, which is solely solving.

Aicher grew up in Sundsvall in Swedish, spoke above all the mother’s language at home and only came to Germany a few years ago. She now lives in Berchtesgaden. If you are closer to her, she likes to describe her as open -minded and happy. From the outside, it is above all this calm that distinguishes the young Aichner. It may be precisely their strength.