Why Much Mair is irreplaceable for Italy's women's team

“A World Cup medal would be the most fitting gift,” says Much Mair. Of course, he also knows that this birthday wish is not easy to fulfill after Sofia Goggia was injured. Federica Brignone and Marta Bassino aren't there either because they don't think they have any chances at the “Olympia delle Tofane”. It is more of a slope for good gliders.

Much Mair is one of the veterans in the Ski World Cup. Of the successful South Tyrolean trainers in the World Cup, he is the only one who has won World Cup races himself. A torn cruciate ligament, which he suffered during the Camel Humpbacks in Val Gardena in 1989, was the beginning of the end of his career. When racing director Helmuth Schmalzl and downhill coach Theo Nadig wanted to rejuvenate the team, there was no more room for him. “I really wanted to go to the 1993 World Cup in Morioka because that would have been a departure for me, but I couldn’t convince the association with this argument either,” says Mair. Actually intended as a media supervisor He became a coach almost by accident. He was actually intended for the job of media supervisor and did so alongside Robert Brunner. But then a coach was missing, he returned to the slopes, and the athletes wanted him to stay. “I’m glad it turned out this way because I prefer being on the slopes,” says Mair.

Much Mair with Italy's superstar Marta Bassino. © Pentaphoto

In contrast to many South Tyrolean colleagues, he always stayed in Italy. He was the men's speed coach for a long time before becoming head of the women's team, where he had a strong team. But he had to leave in 2010 because he dared to criticize a decision by then FISI President Giovanni Morzenti. He then trained the youth of the Abruzzo regional association and had Giordano Ronci under his wing, who then made it to the national team.

Eight years ago he returned to the national team, back to the women's team, but no longer as boss. If Italy currently has the strongest speed team, then he has also done his part. This is not just because he brings a good mood to the team and always has the Watt cards with him. His tips are always in demand on the slopes. “Sofia Goggia can do a lot better. Marta Bassino is technically the best runner after Mikaela Shiffrin.” Much Mair And what does he think about his athletes? “Sofia Goggia is an exception, for better or worse. She is always at the limit. We are working on making it more stable. She can still get a lot better,” says Mair about Italy’s best downhill skier of all time, who will be sorely missed at this World Cup. There is only praise for Marta Bassino: “She stands perfectly on the skis. Technically she is definitely the best runner behind Mikaela Shiffrin and her character is very straightforward.” What he likes most about Federica Brignone is that she is a real racing type. “However, she perhaps expected too much after everything went so easily last year and is therefore a bit tense.” He expects more ambition from Elena Curtoni. “She is in the comfort zone too much, making do with little. She could do a lot more.” Dietenheim remains his home You shouldn't expect too much from Nadia Delago at this World Cup. “She can be very fast, but of course there is still a lot of work to be done. The fact that there were only one and a half training runs on the downhill is a handicap for her. But I trust her to make it into the top 15,” says Mair about the Val Gardena native, whose older sister Nicol is out of action due to a torn Achilles tendon.

Rome has become a second home for Much Mair, but his first home remains Dietenheim. He values that. “I am a Dietenheimer. My residence is there and I am always in Dietenheim even in the summer. I like to be in Rome when the ski season is over and I've seen enough glaciers and snow. “I’m happy when I come into the warmth,” explains Much Mair. He'll have to wait a little longer for that, because the season won't be over until mid-March after the World Cup final in Lenzerheide.

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Why Much Mair is irreplaceable for Italy's women's team

Much Mair is one of the many successful South Tyrolean trainers in the Ski World Cup. Even if he is not at the forefront, the speed successes of Italy's ski women also bear his signature. Today Mair turns 59 years old.

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