Anna Gasser is off to a strong start to the World Cup adventure – medal in sight!

Anna Gasser is off to a strong start to the World Cup adventure – medal in sight!

The Snowboard and Ski Freestyle World Championships begin on Thursday for the Austrian snowboarder and Olympic champion Anna Gasser in the picturesque Engadine, Switzerland. After three intensive days of training, the 33-year-old is optimistic and ready for the slopestyle qualification. "Today I was able to do tricks from top to bottom on the course. Now I'm relatively happy and excited," reports Gasser, who thinks she has a realistic chance of winning a medal. Despite difficult weather conditions on Sunday and Monday, the team took full advantage of the bright Tuesday to optimally prepare for the challenging course. “It’s extremely long and heavy!” explains the Carinthian, who mastered the major changes in the course with flying colors.

Gasser has already won numerous medals around the world and is one of the most influential personalities in snowboarding. As highlighted in the documentary “The Spark Within,” she struggles not only with injuries, but more importantly with her inner strength – her spark. This documentary chronicles her meteoric rise from young gymnast to today's most innovative snowboarder and includes never-before-seen footage of her challenges, most notably at the 2020 Winter X Games, where she attempted to perform the first triple underflip in a women's competition. “It is one of the strongest characteristics and the key to her development,” says her partner, pro snowboarder Clemens Millauer. As Zeitblatt reported, Gasser revolutionized women's sports and set new standards that will influence many generations to come.

Qualification challenges

Preparing for qualification represents an immense challenge for Gasser: "For me, qualifying is worse than a final. One small mistake and you're gone." However, Gasser was confident after training and is hoping for good conditions for the finale this weekend. “If the weather conditions are good and I have the speed, then I can keep up well with the others and am a medal contender,” said the hope for victory. As the Crown reported, however, unfavorable weather forecasts are forecast for the final, which could significantly affect their chances. However, Gasser's ability to learn from every training session and her thoughtful strategies make her a competitor to keep an eye on.