New love, new happiness: Hofer ushers in a hot phase

Rested and fresh, Lukas Hofer starts the final stretch of his preseason preparation. In an interview, he talks about his training alongside Lisa Vittozzi – and his vacation with his new love.

03 October 2024

From:
Christoph Niederkofler

The right balance between stress and relaxation – after 14 years on the World Cup stage, Lukas Hofer knows what is important in preparation. “After summer training, it is important to calm down and rest,” the 35-year-old explained in an interview with SportNews. "Turn your head off, get away from it all and do something else."

At the beginning of September, the two-time World Cup winner headed to Malta to soak up the last strong rays of sunshine before the cold weather. "Salty air, warmth and sunshine - that's good for the body," Hofer reflected. "And in a certain sense, it needs that, the winter is long enough."

A look at his Instagram profile reveals that the Montaler was not alone on the Mediterranean island. At his side was the German biathlete Johanna Puff. "We have been together since around the end of last season," Hofer revealed. "The vacation had been planned for some time."

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The pictures show that fun and relaxation were guaranteed in the warm south. The perfect conditions for the final stretch of preparation.

At the side of Vittozzi to top form

In contrast to the rest of the men's team, which is currently in France, Hofer is working on his form at the Lavazéjoch. His stay overlaps with that of the biathlon women around Lisa Vittozzi, alongside whom the experienced athlete completes several units.

Although the level of performance is not the same for the women as for the men, Hofer can still learn a thing or two from them. "You just have to look at Lisa Vittozzi and her mindset," he emphasized. "The way she fought her way out of the hole she found herself in - you can learn a lot from that."

This is also supported by his collaboration with the Finnish shooting coach Jonne Kähkönen, who is expected to use his expertise to make Vittozzi and Co. the most accurate shooters in the biathlon circus.

"I want to pick up where I left off" Lukas hofer

"His presence was a plus for me when planning the training camps, also because I changed the stock on my rifle," explained Hofer. "Having someone like him, who is so calm and focused, at my side is very important. We discuss, give various inputs and look for the right path together. It's really pleasant with him."

So the season can begin. However, Hofer does not want to set an explicit goal for the start in Kontiolahti (November 30 to December 8). "I want to pick up where I left off. If I can do what I show in training, a lot is possible in the competition."