Nadya Ochner: “I can’t be a snowboard professional like that”

South Tyrol is surprisingly losing its long-standing figurehead in women's snowboarding sport at an unusual time. Nadya Ochner doesn't want any more. The Burgstaller, who has been the mixed team world champion with Aaron March since February of this year, no longer has any fire. “This decision didn’t happen overnight. It's been on my mind for a long time, years actually. I constantly have other things on my mind than just focusing on the next training session, the next race. The absolute will to always give everything, to win, to forego many things – that has recently become smaller and smaller.”

Ochner also knows that the timing, 3 days before the start of the season, is very unusual for this step: “I actually wanted to see this season through to the end. But the closer the start in Carezza got, the less joy I had. I've become more indifferent lately. I can't compete in races like that, I can't be a professional snowboarder like that. And because I’m not one for half-assed things, that’s what I decided.”

Nadya Ochner at the Olympic Games in Beijing 2022. © APA/afp / MARCO BERTORELLO

Nadya Ochner has competed in 108 World Cup races since her debut on March 13, 2010 in Valmalenco, and there will be one more on Thursday. The fact that she is celebrating her farewell on the Pra di Tori slope makes it easier for the 30-year-old: “This is where I achieved my first podium in third place in 2014, and this is where I won my only race in 2018 with Ester Ledecka and Ramona Hofmeister beaten. I hope that many fans will come again on Thursday and celebrate with me.”

Ochner denies that there are “other” reasons than a lack of motivation: “I took part in all the training except in Sölden, where I was sick. But perhaps this summer I already understood that this trip would end sooner than planned. I treated myself to two vacations, one in Cyprus in the spring and one in Colombia in the fall. I did what was good for my soul. There are other things I want to do besides snowboarding.”

Nadya Ochner ends her career on Thursday. © ANSA / GIAN EHRENZELLER

She denies that her almost completed law studies could have played a role: “I have completed the last exams, all that is missing is my doctoral thesis. I'm so proud that I did it. But for now I will stay with my employer, the police. I will take on a role at the sports group in Moena and look after the next generation of snowboarders, i.e. recruit new talents and look after them. I already agreed on this collaboration with Erica Antoniol, the coordinator of the police sports group, last week.”

What will the next few days bring? “First, the last time together with my colleagues in the Moseralm team hotel and the final race.” And then? “I'll have another drink on Thursday evening and look forward to Friday. I have no idea what it brings and what comes after.”

The career of Nadya Ochner Date and place of birth: March 14, 1993 in Merano Location: Burgstall Job: Snowboard professional, aspiring lawyer Sports group: Police World Cup debut: March 13, 2010 in Valmalenco Hobbies: Taekwondo, reading, playing music (Nadya was a trumpet player with the Burgstall band for years) Greatest successes: World champion in the team event with Aaron March on February 22, 2023 in Bakuriani (Georgia, pictured), 1 World Cup victory in the individual (December 13, 2018 parallel giant slalom at Karerpass-Carezza), 3 World Cup victories in the team event, 4 additional individual podium finishes (twice second, twice third), bronze at the 2013 Junior World Championships, overall European Cup victory in 2010/11; Second in the South Tyrolean sportsman election 2018; 16th at the 2022 Olympics in the parallel giant slalom

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Nadya Ochner: “I can’t be a snowboard professional like that”

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