"Most beautiful thing in the world" has knocked out Straßer
Linus Straßer has been a father for almost a year - and has therefore had to find a new approach to alpine skiing. In the meantime, the slalom skier has rediscovered the fun. The 31-year-old explains this change with a simple realization.
Linus Straßer doesn't beat about the bush. "I just didn't feel like it anymore," says the best German slalom racer about the time after the botched World Championships in February, "I can admit that openly and honestly." After two third and two fourth places in the World Cup, Straßer had gone to the title fights as one of the favorites. However, the parallel race was already disappointing - 14th place. In the slalom, he had the medal he was hoping for in fourth place after the first run, but fell to ninth place.
"That really stuck with me," says Straßer, "it was tough and took a long time." He was thoroughly fed up with skiing - and not only that. "I didn't feel like training anymore, not even in the summer," he admits. However, the Munich native explains that his listlessness was not just the result of the World Championship disappointments. Around eleven months ago, his life "changed fundamentally", explains the 31-year-old. That was when he became a father for the first time, and after the season this experience hit home - and put Straßer in a hole.
"When you become a dad - that's one of the best things in the world," says head coach Christian Schwaiger, "but it also changes your freedom as an athlete, you have more responsibility, you have to support your wife. You have to get all that on track first." Straßer needed time - and found a trick to get back on track. "I just saw it as work," the training, he says. At some point, he "got his mind off things again". "Linus," confirms boss Schwaiger, "got to grips with it really well."
The goal for the World Cup season is clear
Especially as he knows all about situations in which nothing seems to go on. Four and a half years ago, he was already at the point where he said he was "no longer in the mood" for pole vaulting. In the winter of 2018/19, his last alongside Felix Neureuther, the highly talented athlete only scored points in a single World Cup slalom.
He was regularly up against the great Neureuther in training. It was "very grueling" that he was unable to show his skills in the races. Even then, fundamental changes helped - in the coaching team. Schwaiger took over as head coach, Bernd Brunner became technical coach and Straßer took off.
In the first season under the new management, he finished in the top 10 three times, in the second season he took his redemptive first slalom victory and since then he has established himself among the world's best. The fact that he didn't achieve even more last winter and failed to make it to the World Championships was also due to a persistent illness around the turn of the year. "Linus," says Schwaiger, physically "completely fell apart at the back, he was finished."
On Saturday ( 10.45 am/13.45 pm, BR and Eurosport), he will make a new attempt at the first slalom of the winter in Gurgl/Austria with the old goal: "To be on the podium in every race." As a now somewhat more experienced father.
Straßer has found enjoyment in alpine skiing again after becoming a father, which has changed his approach to the sport. This change in perspective has allowed him to rediscover the fun in alpine skiing, especially competition in Winter sports like alpine skiing.
Despite experiencing a slump in his performance following the World Championships, Straßer's love for alpine skiing and Winter sports has remained strong, and he continues to aim for success on the slopes.
Source: www.ntv.de
