Patrick Oberegger: South Tyrol's biathlon guru in the far north

It's no wonder that the Norwegian women were thrilled when Patrick Oberegger was introduced as their new coach almost two years ago. He should lead the team back to where it belongs, i.e. to the absolute top of the world. Deeply relaxed, calm, extremely likeable - and above all equipped with a great deal of specialist knowledge, the South Tyrolean managed to form a team that is unrivaled in the World Cup. In distant Oslo, Oberegger answered our questions by telephone.

You have been in Norway for two years now. How did you settle in? Patrick Oberegger: “I have always had a connection to Norway. That definitely strengthened my decision. As a South Tyrolean you are valued here and you integrate quickly. This has to do with the Norwegians' closeness to nature, which is similar to that in South Tyrol. Nevertheless, life is different here. Not better or worse, just different. The only thing that has stayed the same is my Italian phone number (laughs).”

Are you glad you decided to take this step? Was it the right decision? “When I got the offer, it wasn’t just sporting aspects that influenced my decision. I also wanted to experience a new culture, work with new athletes and develop as a coach. Successes or defeats are secondary. Afterwards I can say that it was the best decision I have made in my life so far.”

Can you compare the way of working in Norway with that in South Tyrol? “It’s all a little bigger – in many ways. The media attention is greater, the approach is different. You can tell that the entire society is sport-oriented and enthusiastic. But I always say that we don't have to hide in South Tyrol, because we produce world-class athletes in almost every sport. Cross-country skiing and biathlon are number 1 here. That’s probably the biggest difference compared to South Tyrol, where sports like football, ice hockey or alpine skiing are more popular.”

What is it like to train three top athletes like Tiril Eckhoff, Marte Olsbu Røiseland and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold? Do you also have to act as a mediator there or is the mood good? “If there are differences of opinion, discuss them openly. There is a lively flow of information involving coaches, athletes and supervisors. Everything isn't always great, but mutual respect is omnipresent - not just among the women, but also among the men. And what is also very strong is the team feeling. The focus is on the team and not the individual. If I'm honest, I was a little surprised by this level of solidarity. I have a good relationship with Tiril, Ingrid and Marte and working with each of them is equally exciting in a different way. It’s a big advantage to have three world-class athletes on the team because the pressure isn’t just on one person.”

Patrick Oberegger follows the events at the shooting range like a hawk. © itseriksen

About Tiril Eckhoff: She has always been among the world's best, but not every weekend. What adjustments have you made to ensure that she delivers her performance so consistently? “I think that the mental aspect plays a big role for women – even more than for men. Above all, having the ability to translate your training performance into the race is crucial. Training well and being good at racing are two different things. At Tiril we obviously put shooting in the foreground, but there are many factors that have to come together. You have to find the right words at the right moment, take your time and have an explanation for everything. Good results can only occur if the athletes accept you. There is no guarantee of success.”

Was she very disappointed that she narrowly missed out on the overall World Cup? “Of course it was bitter, but before the season the big ball wasn’t an issue for us. Tiril just wanted to do as many good races as possible. We never imagined that things would go so well. I am convinced that we lost the overall World Cup not in the last shooting, but in a number of decisions throughout the season. For example in Pokljuka, where Tiril was a little ailing and skipped the mass start. In the end, she was missing these points. If you want to win the big ball, you have to compete in all the races. We have analyzed it and will do better next time. You learn lessons from such disappointments, even if you don't want to admit it at the beginning. Nevertheless, the season was almost too good. We have to save something for next winter (laughs).”

But if you lose the overall World Cup, then it will be against a South Tyrolean, right? "Yes definitely. If our athletes don't get on the podium, I hope an Italian athlete does, I have to be honest. There is no reason to be jealous, on the contrary. I can only take my hat off to how the Italian team presented itself in the World Cup and at the World Championships in Antholz. And I am also grateful to them, because I was only given this great opportunity thanks to my successes with them.”

Last but not least: Is training in Norway currently possible? “Although the regulations are not as extreme as in South Tyrol, we still have to follow strict regulations. At the moment there is only individual training taking place at the respective base. Everyone has their own shooting mat, must wear gloves and use disinfectant before and after training. The Norwegians are meticulous in these matters and leave nothing to chance. The entire coaching team is in constant contact. But I hope that we can return to normality in June, because you can’t train optimally like that.”

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Patrick Oberegger: South Tyrol's biathlon guru in the far north

The Norwegian women completely dominated last season. Their secret to success? Coach Patrick Oberegger. The Antholz native spoke to SportNews about his new life, the internal competition and the overall World Cup that Dorothea Wierer snatched away from his protégé Tiril Eckhoff.

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