In Winterberg has started the World Cup

In a sunny Winterberg as few remembered, last weekend kicked off the 2016/17 World Cup.

Living in a soccer-centric country like ours, the impact with the luge athmosphere is always reassuring. Beyond an healthy and reasonable sporting competitiveness, sport, respect and friendship are the dominant values.

On Friday and Saturday, February's "swimming pool" has given way to a dry and performing track, which has led to a slew of track records.

Women have begun greatly in the first run: Mc Rae (CAN), Platzer (AUT), Eitberger (GER), Hüfner (GER) and Geisenberger (GER) have overcome each other in this order, bringing lower and lower the dipstick. Geisenberger has also beaten herself in the second run, with a time of 55",401.

Although the path is long, we see hope for improvement even for our girls. A particularly spiteful fate has willed that both of them had serious shoulder problems ..and you know how shoulders are fundamental for a luger.

Sandra Robatscher had a bad inflammation, which had been a little overlooked, but the new physiotherapist, Antonio Tartaglia, has begun to address the situation already last summer. "In Norway, his condition was still very bad -he told us- but we managed to do a good job and now the problem seems to be solved."

Andrea Vötter's situation was still worst: she had already been underwent a bilateral surgery in the summer of 2015. However for the two shoulders had been used different surgical techniques. The one used on the right shoulder has proved much more effective, so in the last months the surgery on her left shoulder has been repeated with the technique proven the best and Andrea told us: "Since I returned on the ice, in Norway, I noticed a significant improvement and I've been performing like never before in the start. After surgery, by the moment that my teammates were often away and I was still recovering, I entrusted myself to a personal physiotherapist, with whom I was able to recuperate satisfactorily in time for the beginning of the season."

Doubles have not been less impressive with Wendl / Arlt, who lowered the time clocked in February by Eggert / Benecken, but have been repeatedly beaten by the same compatriots, who clocked the Track Record in both runs (42 962 and 42.943) and the Start Record (2,983) in the first heat.

Among the Italians, good fifths Rieder / Rastner, second only to the winners in the starting phase, and who are working hard on their driving technique, in which they still have considerable room for improvement.

One thing that has intrigued many fans is how Antonio Tartaglia, former Technical Director of the Italian bobsled National team, has become the physiotherapist of the luge National team.

"Actually my role in bobsled team was really stressful and I had decided to leave it anyway.

I was already qualified as a physiotherapist and I did what I needed to perform this task even at the National team level. By chance, my precursor, Diethmar Pirhofer, has been moved by the Army to Bozen, to manage the Casta. When in the spring I met Armin Zöggeler, my comrade in the Carabinieri, he asked me to join the luge National team. We made a test, we were fine on both sides, and here I am. The luge environment is completely different from that of the bobsled and I am sure that here I will have new challenges ... not least the language: they all speak dialect, at best German ... and I don't understand even one word!"

Shiva Keshavan photo: Hidenari Kanayama

In a Teutonic matrix environment like this, one of those who would fail to go unnoticed even if it wanted is a smiling Indian guy, with his orange suit, who thanks to his mother Rosalba and to his university studies in Italy, perfectly speaks Dante's language with a slight Tuscan accent: Shiva Keshavan.
Shiva is one of the veterans of the circuit, holder of the World record for youngest ever Olympian with regard to this discipline, which only 16 years old took part in the Olympics in Nagano (JAP). Since then he has not missed one edition of the games, so that Pyeongchang will be his 6th Olympics.

Since 2014 collaborates with him as coach the former US luger Duncan Kennedy, who is providing his extensive experience also to improve the sled.

Unfortunately on Sunday morning Winterberg has regained its usual humid and unstable climate. To pay the greater brunt have been the Fischnaller cousins, who have found themselves down the first run in a mixture of snow and rain that, in addition to making precarious the conditions of the track, has made poor the visibility during the race.
Small consolation in the second heat: Dominik has set the fastest time of the manche and Kevin got a 5th time for him very encouraging.

In the "traditional format" World Cup down the podium Felix Loch, who recuperated immediately winning the Sprint race.

Russia, guided by Albert Demchenko, continues to convince putting three athletes in the top six and getting two second places: with Repilov in the World Cup and with Fedorov in the Sprint.

paola castaldi

You can read the Italian translation of my article on oasport.it at the following link: http://www.oasport.it/2016/11/slittino-dietro-le-quinte-a-winterberg-tartaglia-e-laddio-al-bob-azzurri-tra-speranze-e-difficolta/

Intervista a Dominik Fischnaller alla vigilia dell'avvio di stagione - Interview with Dominik Fischnaller just before the new season's kickoff

Il prossimo fine settimana, a Winterberg (GER), prenderà il via la Coppa del Mondo 2016/17. Comincerà là dove si era chiusa la passata stagione, con una gara rocambolesca, fortemente condizionata dal meteo, in cui conclusero nei primi 5 posti atleti, che dopo la prima discesa erano nelle retrovie.
A 15 mesi dai Giochi Olimpici di Pyeongchang (Corea del Sud), abbiamo intervistato Dominik Fischnaller, atleta di punta della Nazionale Italiana e componente del team, che ha partecipato alla pre-omologazione della nuova pista coreana.

Fast&Cool: La nuova stagione sta per cominciare, come ti sei preparato durante l'estate? Quali sono le tue aspettative?

Dominik Fischnaller: Durante l'estate abbiamo lavorato tanto con il nuovo preparatore atletico, Mattias Schnitzer! Con lui abbiamo fatto tanti esercizi nuovi per la partenza e siamo anche stati in sala pesi quasi tutti i giorni per migliorarci. La speranza è di fare buone gare e partenze veloci. E poi si vedrà.

 

F&C: Ormai è circa un mese che sei tornato sul ghiaccio. Pensi che i materiali siano migliori dell'anno scorso? Quali sensazioni hai?

D.F.: Siamo stati a Lillehammer (NOR), Sigulda (LAT), Königssee (GER), Oberhof (GER) e Igls (AUT). Mentre i miei compagni erano a Winterberg, io sono stato anche a Pyeongchang. Mi sento in una buona forma e mi trovo bene con la slitta anche perché ho un nuovo sedile.

F&C: Rispetto all'anno scorso avete cambiato fisioterapista e preparatore atletico. Cosa è cambiato per voi atleti? Pensi che sia stato un miglioramento?

D.F.: Sì, è vero li abbiamo cambiati entrambi. Secondo me questo è stato un miglioramento. Antonio (ndr.: Tartaglia, ex D.T. della Nazionale di bob, oro nel bob a 2 alle Olimpiadi di Nagano 1998) ha tanta esperienza sia da atleta sia come allenatore. Mattias ha lavorato tanto con noi anche in passato e noi crediamo in ciò che ci dice e ci insegna.

F&C: Sei appena stato a Pyeongchang per la pre omologazione della nuova pista olimpica. Ti piace?

D.F.: Questa pista é veramente bellissima, mi piace un sacco! Anche la gente, che lavora lì ci ha accolti benissimo e abbiamo mangiato molto bene. Così per me lì è stato tutto bello.

F&C: Quest'anno la stagione comincerà a Winterberg, dove si è conclusa quella passata. Il clima molto variabile di quella zona porta spesso risultati imprevedibili e colpi di scena. L'anno scorso tu fosti 24° nella prima manche e 3° a fine gara. Come vedi la gara di quest'anno?

D.F.: Sì, il tempo di Winterberg è sempre un po' strano. Secondo me, comunque, quello che è successo l'anno scorso è stato anche un gran colpo di fortuna! Quest'anno la gara sarà sicuramente diversa. Un piazzamento ai primi 10 sarebbe sicuramente un bel modo di iniziare!

Chris Mezdzer, Stepan Fedorov e Dominik Fischnaller, sorpresi, sul podio alla fine della gara di 
Winterberg, lo scorso 21 febbraio. Alla fine della prima manche erano stati 28°, 26° e 24°

F&C: I Mondiali di gennaio 2017 saranno ad Igls, dove l'anno scorso hai messo a segno la tua seconda vittoria da Senior. Parlaci del tuo rapporto con questa pista su cui, negli ultimi anni, hai fatto buoni risultati e che si può quasi dire sia la tua "pista di casa".

D.F.: Diciamo che la pista di Igls mi piace... anche perché è tanto vicina a casa (ndr. circa 80 km), così la mia famiglia e gli amici vengono sempre a vedermi gareggiare lì. È stato lì che ho fatto le mie prime discese da bambino.

Next weekend, in Winterberg (GER), will kick off the 2016/17 World Cup. It will begin where last season was closed with an unpredictable race, strongly affected by the weather, in which the athletes, who concluded in the first 5 places, had been in the rear after the first run.

15 months from the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang (South Korea), we interviewed Dominik Fischnaller, top athlete of the Italian National team and member of the team, which has participated in the pre-homologation of the new Korean track.

Fast&Cool: The new season is about to begin, how did you prepare during the summer? Which are your expectations?

Dominik Fischnaller: During the summer we worked a lot with the new physical trainer, Mattias Schnitzer! With him, we made so many new exercises for the start and we were also in the weight room almost every day to improve.
The hope is to make good races and quick starts. And then we'll see.

F&C: It is now about a month that you're back on ice. Do you think the equipment is better than last year? What feelings do you have?
D.F.: We've been in Lillehammer (NOR), Sigulda (LAT), Königssee (GER), Oberhof (GER) e Igls (AUT). While my team mates were in Winterberg, I've been also in Pyeongchang. I feel in a good shape and I feel good with the slide also because I have a new seat.  

F&C: During the summer you have changed the physiotherapist and the athletic trainer. What has changed for you athletes? Do you think it has been an improvement?

D.F.: Yes, it's true, we have changed them both. I think this has been an improvement. Antonio (editor's note: Tartaglia, former Technical Director of the bob Italian National team, gold in the two man bobsleigh at the 1998 Nagano Olympics) has a lot of experience both as an athlete and as a coach. Mattias has worked so hard with us also in the past and we believe in what he says and teaches us.

F&C: You've just been in Pyeongchang for the pre homologation of the new Olympic track. Do you like it?

D.F.: This track is really beautiful, I love it! Even people working there welcomed us fine and we ate very well. So for me everything was nice there.

F&C: This year the season begins in Winterberg, where the last has ended. The highly variable climate of that area often leads to unpredictable results and twists. Last year you were 24th in the first heat and 3rd at the end of the race. How do you see this year's race?

D.F.: Yes, the Winterberg weather is always a bit weird. However, to me, what has happened last year was also a stroke of luck! This year the race will definitely be different. I think that a place between the first 10 would be a good way to start the season!

Chris Mezdzer, Stepan Fedorov and Dominik Fischnaller, surprised, on the podium at the end of the race in
Winterberg, on last February 21st. At the end of the first run they had been 28th, 26th and 24th

F&C: The World Championships in January 2017 will be in Igls, where last year you scored your second victory as Senior. Tell us about your relationship with this track on which, in the last years, you've done well and that you can almost say to be your "home track".

D.F.: Let's say that I like Igls's track... also because it is so close to home (editor's note: about 80 km), so my family and friends always come to see me competing there. It was there that I made my first runs as a child.

paola castaldi