Ski hero in the countdown: anticipation for the World Cup start in Sölden

Ski hero in the countdown: anticipation for the World Cup start in Sölden

With the Media Day of Atomic, which recently took place, it becomes clear that the start of the season in the Ski World Cup is imminent. On Thursday, 16 days before the traditional start in Sölden, well -known athletes such as Mikaela Shiffrin, Lucas Braathen, Manuel Feller and Sofia Goggia gathered to start the new season together. However, there are also some prominent names that cannot participate in the first races.

Especially catchy that Mikaela Shiffrin appeared in the absence of her fiance Aleksander Aamodt. Kilde, which was injured nine months ago in a serious fall in Wengen, is currently in an important medical examination, but a comeback is expected to take several months. In addition, Marco Schwarz will still have to wait for an upcoming intervertebral disc operation, and Sofia Goggia, which has undergone an operation in September, is planning to complete a one-month overseas camp before returning. Niels Hintermann, who is away from the ski slopes due to his cancer diagnosis, could not take part in the event.

The return of the ski stars

Shiffrin acted less as a training partner this summer, but rather as an emotional support for kilde. She spent almost three months in training camps in the USA and South America, and her anticipation for a meeting in Innsbruck was clearly noticeable. "It will be a fun evening," said the 29-year-old with a smile.

The return of Kilde is still uncertain; His injuries to the right calf and the left shoulder could still have an impact on his healing process. Shiffrin expressed her hope: "I dream of the moment when he is back in the starting house. Aleksander kilder - this brutal strength, so much personality. I hope we can experience it again."

Marco Schwarz also has optimistic plans: "I hope to be strong for 2024. But I don't want to put pressure on myself. First I have to get back on snow." While his teammates are already preparing for the upcoming races, Schwarz is optimistic about the future.

Manuel Feller, the slalom professional from Tirol, feels ready for the upcoming challenge. Despite the pressure of repeating his successful last season, he stays chilled: "I have achieved more than I would have ever dared to dream as a child. I accept everything that comes about," he explains. But satisfaction alone is not enough for him: "I want that again, I want to experience it more often. Above all, skiing has rarely been so much fun beforehand."

Another exciting aspect is the return of Lucas Braathen, who, after a year in which he surprisingly exit in the Ötztal, returns under Brazilian flag. With his passion for skiing, Braathen primarily wants to inspire the people in Brazil. "I find it more important than bringing skiing to Brazil," emphasizes the 24-year-old, who wants to build on his career with fresh vigor.

rounded off Adrian Pertl's contingent, a new slalom specialist from Carinthia, who followed the team from Atomic after a season without top ten results. Pertl's decision testifies to his determination to reorient itself in high -performance sport.

The anticipation and the challenges that the new season brings is the focus. The skiing world cup start promises to be exciting, even if some top athletes cannot start. Information and details about developments in ski sports can be found at www.suedtirolnews.it .