Junior World Cup 2 in 1

At the beginning of December, the Junior and Youth World Cup has kicked off in Calgary.
Within four days and on a single track have been carried out the first two stages. The third will take place in mid January. In addition to this particular distribution of the calendar, other aspects have attracted our curiosity. In order to explore the reasons and the mechanisms, we interviewed Klaus Kofler, coordinator of the Italian junior National team.

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Klaus Kofler ph: @CyntheaHausman2016

Fast&Cool: A few days ago, in Calgary, the first 2 stages of the Junior and Youth World Cup have been carried out. Each category has competed 2 times in approximately 48 hours.
Why has been decided to do so?

Klaus Kofler: They decided so because, if they had organized there just one race, no Nation would have faced this long journey. A race in America is associated with great costs.

F&C: This year's calendar is rather peculiar: after these first two stages, you'll regain in mid January. Why they opted for a so "fractionated" calendar?

K.K.: Making the Juniors calendar is not so easy, because they have to organize first the luge, bobsled and skeleton races for the adults and only later for the youth. In addition some tracks have no interest in hosting the junior competitions, because they don't make money with them: no TV, few spectators.. Initially had been scheduled one race also in Lake Placid, but in the end the track has not accepted :-(

F&C: We have noticed that, despite the track was the same, at distance of 2 days, the results have been significantly different.
Which factors have allowed this phenomenon, not easy to explain for the layman?

K.K: It is easy to answer: for everyone it was the first time in Calgary! They have done 10 training runs, and then the races. They are still young and are not able to do each run without mistakes. It is normal on their age. They work well and try to improve.

The track in Calgary view from satellite

F&C: You have decided to bring only the men's team, why?

K.K.: As I said before, this "journey" costs a lot. In those days the women's team has made a good training in Oberhof and Igls, with many more runs. It is important for their growth.

Da sx: Felix Schwarz, Lukas Gufler, Fabian Malleier, Ivan Nagler. 
Accosciato: Leon Felderer ph: Holly Arndt

F&C: Although there were no Italian girls, you have taken part in the junior Team Relay, by deploying Veronica Ravenna, who usually competes for Argentina. How was it possible?

K.K.: So are the rules: when there is not one of the component of the Relay, you can join it together with another Country.

F&C: In Calgary there were no German athletes. This has fostered the good results of your guys? To what extent?

K.K.: It is hard to say... but we don't look to others. We try to make a good race, to improve continuously, and then we see what happens ;-)

In the light of what  Klaus told us, we hope that the Federations will continue to cultivate the training schools and the FIL will make sure to keep the youth competitions at high level.
Otherwise we fear that this beautiful, but difficult and very "niche" sport will have a very short life!


paola castaldi

You can read the Italian translation of my article on oasport.it at the following link: http://www.oasport.it/2016/12/slittino-klaus-kofler-e-difficile-organizzare-gare-per-i-giovani-senza-introiti-molte-localita-dicono-di-no/

Slitte nella tempesta - Slides in the storm

All'insegna dell'incertezza la terza tappa di Coppa del Mondo, prevista a Whistler (CAN).

Le slitte di tutti gli atleti, che avrebbero dovuto essere trasportate su strada da Lake Placid, nello stato di New York (USA) a Whistler, in British Columbia (CAN), non sono ancora arrivate!
Sono rimaste bloccate da una tempesta di neve a Brandon, a circa 2000 km dalla destinazione.
Attualmente si pensa di spostarle con un volo charter da Winnipeg e si prevede di farle arrivare entro domani mattina, ora locale.

Allenamenti e gare continuano a subire variazioni d'orario.

Delle 7 discese di allenamento previste, si spera di poterne fare un paio.
Per gli atleti più esperti, questo non dovrebbe essere un problema, ma in questo modo sarà garantita la sicurezza dei meno abili nella guida?
Questa è la pista più veloce del mondo e, nonostante il repentino accorciamento deciso alla vigilia delle Olimpiadi del 2010, resta un tracciato in cui si possono raggiungere i 150 km/h!

                             

Attualmente tutte le competizioni, compresa la Nations Cup, sono schedulate sabato pomeriggio, a partire dalle ore 14.

Le competizioni di Coppa del Mondo saranno disputate in una manche unica e la Staffetta è stata cancellata.

Speriamo che non ci siano ulteriori ritardi e che tutto si possa svolgere nel miglior modo possibile, ma ha senso snaturare così tanto i format delle gare pur di farle svolgere?
Siamo sicuri che lo spettacolo debba continuare?

Characterized by the uncertainty the third stage of the World Cup, scheduled in Whistler (CAN).

The slides of all the athletes, that were supposed to be transported by road from Lake Placid, in the state of New York (USA) to Whistler, British Columbia (CAN), have not arrived yet!

They have been stranded by a snowstorm in Brandon, about 2,000 km from the destination.

At the moment plans are to move them with a charter flight from Winnipeg and they are expected in Whistler by tomorrow morning, local time.

Trainings and competitions continue to suffer timetable changes.

Of the 7 training runs planned, hopefully there will be held a couple.

For the more experienced athletes, this should not be a problem, but this way will be guaranteed the safety of the less skilled?

This is the fastest track in the world and, despite the abrupt shortening decided on the eve of the 2010 Olympics, it remains a track where you can reach 150 km/h!

Currently all competitions, including the Nations Cup, are scheduled on Saturday afternoon, starting at 14.

The World Cup competitions will be held in a single run and Team Relay has been deleted.

We hope that there won't be further delays and that everything will be carried out in the best possible way, but it makes sense to denature so much the format of the races just to run them anyway?

Must the show go on?


paola castaldi

The Technical Director Armin Zöggeler takes stock of the situation - Il D.T. Armin Zöggeler fa il punto della situazione

During the summer there have been major changes in the technical staff.

Mattias Schnitzer ph: Arthur Kofler

The athletes told us to be happy. What do you think about it? How did you come to the decision to change both the athletic trainer and the physiotherapist?

This season I changed the staff. The arrival of the new fitness coach and of the new physiotherapist brought a new motivation in the team and to have well-motivated athletes is a good thing.

I was not very convinced of the athletic trainer we had before, because I realized that athletes could do even more, so I changed it. As for the former physiotherapist, Diethmar Pirhofer, he wanted to spend more time at home with his family, by the moment that the next two seasons will be very challenging, we have solved the case this way.

Last weekend began the new season. During the race, aspects that during the preparation and training are not evident become clear.

Which positive and negative things have you noticed inside the Italian team?

ph: Sonja Hackhofer Oberhofer

The change of the coaches has been a positive sign. I see the athletes very convinced.
During the races in Winterberg they all have made mistakes and that bothers me a lot, since they have made a good preparation, but they have not been able to transfer the good performances of the workouts in the races. This is a problem. We need to analyze and think about how to do better.

In the second run in Winterberg Dominik Fischnaller has set the fastest time. Can we consider this a positive signal?

Sure, it's a good sign, but in this moment he fails to transfer in the race all the good he does during trainings, that's all.
I am very happy with the equipement and I am sure that he could always get good times if he were able to perform well up to the arrival, without making mistakes.

ph: Oswald Haselrieder

Walter Plaikner is back to take care of the development of the materials. Is his long experience bringing benefits?

Now Walter Plaikner is back as our counselor. We develop some materials separately, carrying on the research and development program we have started since a long time. He tries some things and then we compare the ideas and carry forward the best ones.

This, apart Oberstolz/Gruber, is a very young team, that struggles to find a leader like you were in the past.

What needs to be done, in your opinion, because this group grows and achieves good results in a constant way?

True, they are young, but they have to stop using their youth as an excuse! They have to mature!

It's just been homologated the new track of Pyeongchang. You were there in last spring, but it had not been frozen yet. Which impression did you have? Do you think it is suitable to the characteristics of your athletes?

It's hard to say. I was there just in the last spring. In autumn there has been the international homologation, but I was not there in person and I only heard someone else's opinion concerning it, so I can't say exactly how are the characteristics of the track. We will see in the next spring, when we will be there for an ITW from 8th untill 14th February and also the following week for the World Cup of February 18th and 19th.

The tracing is very interesting. I can not still say if it will be also technically interesting, because I've seen just very few athletes sliding and I haven't collected enough elements to have a precise idea.

Also in this season takes place the Sprint Cup. Do you like this race format?

There is to say that it is an international format, that last year has been included for the first time in the World Championships program. It will be so this year again. It's a very interesting format, it is very fast and it also gives another chance to win a medal.

Durante l’estate ci sono stati importanti cambiamenti nello staff tecnico.

Mattias Schnitzer ph: Arthur Kofler

Gli atleti ci hanno detto di essere contenti. Tu cosa ne pensi? Come siete arrivati alla decisione di cambiare sia il preparatore atletico sia il fisioterapista?

In questa stagione ho cambiato lo staff. L’arrivo del nuovo preparatore atletico e del nuovo fisioterapista ha portato una nuova motivazione in squadra e avere atleti ben motivati è un’ottima cosa.

Non ero molto convinto del preparatore atletico, che c’era prima perché mi rendevo conto che gli atleti potevano fare ancora di più, così l’ho cambiato. Per quanto riguarda il precedente fisioterapista, Diethmar Pirhofer, ha avuto voglia di stare di più a casa con i suoi e allora, visto che le prossime due stagioni saranno davvero molto impegnative, abbiamo risolto così.

ph: Sonja Hackhofer Oberhofer

Lo scorso fine settimana è cominciata la nuova stagione. In gara si evidenziano aspetti che durante la preparazione e gli allenamenti non si vedono.

Quali cose positive e quali negative hai riscontrato all’interno della squadra italiana?
Il cambiamento degli allenatori è stato un segno positivo. Vedo gli atleti molto convinti.

Durante le gare di Winterberg hanno fatto tutti errori e questo mi disturba molto, dal momento che hanno fatto una buona preparazione, ma non sono riusciti a trasferire le buone performances degli allenamenti in gara. Questo è un problema. Dobbiamo analizzare e pensare come fare meglio.

Nella seconda manche di Winterberg Dominik Fischnaller ha fatto il miglior tempo. Possiamo considerarlo un segnale positivo?

Certo, è un segnale positivo, ma al momento non riesce a trasferire in gara ciò che di buono fa in allenamento, tutto qui.

Sono molto contento dei materiali e sono sicuro che potrebbe ottenere sempre ottimi tempi se riuscisse ad andare bene fino all’arrivo senza commettere errori.

ph: Oswald Haselrieder

Walter Plaikner è tornato ad occuparsi dello sviluppo dei materiali. La sua lunga esperienza sta portando dei benefici?

Adesso Walter Plaikner è tornato come nostro consulente. Noi sviluppiamo separatamente alcuni materiali, portando avanti il progetto di ricerca e sviluppo, che abbiamo avviato da tempo. Lui prova alcune cose e poi confrontiamo le idee e portiamo avanti le migliori.

Questa, a parte Oberstolz/Gruber, è una squadra molto giovane, che fatica a trovare un leader come ad esempio sei stato tu in passato.

Cosa bisogna ancora fare, secondo te, perché questo gruppo cresca e raggiunga risultati buoni in modo costante?

Vero, sono giovani, ma devono smettere di usare la loro giovane età come scusa! Devono maturare!

E’ appena stata omologata la nuova pista di Pyeongchang. Tu sei stato là in primavera, ma non era ancora stata ghiacciata. Che impressione ti ha fatto? Pensi possa essere adatta alle caratteristiche dei tuoi atleti?

E’ difficile da dire. Io sono stato lì solo in primavera. In autunno c’è stata l’omologazione internazionale, ma io non c’ero personalmente ed ho solo sentito le opinioni degli altri in merito, quindi non posso dire esattamente come siano le caratteristiche della pista. Vedremo nella prossima primavera, quando saremo lì per una ITW dall’8 al 14 febbraio ed anche la settimana successiva per la CdM del 18 e 19/2.

Il tracciato è molto interessante. Non posso ancora dire se risulterà interessante anche tecnicamente, perché ho visto pochissimi scendere e non ho raccolto abbastanza elementi per avere un’idea precisa.

Anche in questa stagione si svolge la Sprint Cup. Ti piace questo formato di gara?

C’è da dire che è un formato internazionale, che l’anno scorso è stato inserito per la prima volta nel programma dei Mondiali. Sarà così anche quest’anno. E’ un formato veramente molto interessante, è molto veloce e dà anche un’altra possibilità di vincere una medaglia.

paola castaldi