Alex Vinatzer: The slalom star as an autograph hunter

The 21-year-old talked to s+ about how lucky he is to be able to pursue his job despite Corona, but also about the fact that he still has a lot to learn. Vinatzer also revealed whether he was still in contact with the skier from Schladming.

Alex Vinatzer, how are you experiencing the current hectic times with cancellations, postponements and new appointments?

Alex Vinatzer: “It's okay. I don't let myself be influenced too much and try to stay calm. I see it as great luck that we are allowed to race despite Corona. The bottom line is that where we drive doesn’t matter. The important thing is that we can drive. And that I can accelerate there.”

Let's go back in time a bit: What did you do after Adelboden last Sunday?

“I was at home in Wolkenstein for two days and did dry training. Then we trained for 2 days in Pozza di Fassa to prepare ourselves as well as possible for Flachau. On the first day we had an aggressive surface, on the second day the piste was iced in order to be prepared for this eventuality. I spent last night at home again, and today I’m going to Flachau.”

Due to the Corona regulations, you always have to travel to training and races alone in your private car, right?

“That’s actually what the rules say. But I'm going with my skiman Fabio Maxenti. I fell ill with Corona last March, Fabio then in November. We both have antibodies, so we can no longer infect each other. In the meantime, almost everyone in our slalom team has been hit: me, Manni Mölgg, Giuliano Razzoli, and most recently Tommaso Sala.”

Alex Vinatzer scored twice in the first round.

How sad are you that there is no driving in Kitzbühel? Last year you came 2th in your second appearance there.

“The Ganslernhang is the Ganslern, which is always a tremendous experience. But without an audience, every race has its own flair. It's a shame, but again: where we end up driving is secondary. What's important is that we can race at all. “

A flat, rather easy slope awaits you in Flachau. A disadvantage for your driving style?

“I feel comfortable everywhere, no matter what slope, no matter what snow. I can certainly push harder in Flachau as well as in Zagreb, as my height suits me here. But the bottom line is that every race has its key points and its pitfalls. And on so-called easy slopes it is doubly difficult to end up at the top. Because everyone will attack fully and the distances will be minimal.”

“I can still learn a lot. In every sense." You last threaded twice. Both times it was a millimeter decision: just bad luck, right?

“I analyzed it with my coaching team. In Zagreb I approached the gate too aggressively; I should have been more calm on this type of snow. It was clearly my mistake. It was a strange situation in Adelboden. Maybe I rode too loosely, wasn't ready with the swing yet and turned down too quickly instead of riding technically cleanly."

You wouldn't call it insecurity, would you?

“A thread can always happen, but I assume that I will finish again in the future. The fact is that I won't change anything about the way I drive. I take every race anew and approach the runs with full attack and high intensity. But of course I try not to ignore a certain stability.”

Team captain Manfred Mölgg said everyone has to go through a phase like this at some point. Is that any consolation?

“I’m driving better than ever. There are just small details that still need to be ironed out. I'm only 21 years old and still have a lot of potential where I can improve. I can still learn a lot, in every respect. I also just had an appendectomy. I lost 5 kilograms of muscle mass (from 94 to 89 kg). I'm missing these 5 kg now, and I can't get them added anymore because I can't do any strength training at this point in the season. But the way I ski: That’s fine.”

“The Schladming piste racer was a great story. Something like that probably only happens once in a lifetime.” After Flachau comes the Night Race in Schladming. There, too, there are no spectators. Strange, right?

"It is like it is. When I come to Schladming or to Campiglio, or most recently to Adelboden, and there are no fans there - that's strange. It’s the same this year, and hopefully everything will be different next year.”

In Schladming you came sixth last year, which was completely lost in the fuss about a piste racer. Are you still in contact with the lady?

"No I haven't. She certainly has enough people writing to her. The piste racer was a great story that will never happen to me again. That’s one of the reasons why I visited her after the race at the police headquarters, where she was questioned, to take a souvenir photo with her and get her signature.”

The final highlight on the program on February 21st is the World Cup Slalom in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Is that already in the back of your mind?

"No not at all. The World Cup is a great motivation and I'm looking forward to it. But my focus is clearly on the next races in Flachau and then on the night slalom in Schladming. We will be able to test the racing slope in Cortina d'Ampezzo next week and train there. But the World Cup is still far too far away.”

Interview: Andreas Vieider

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Alex Vinatzer: The slalom star as an autograph hunter

The threaders of Zagreb and Adelboden are a thing of the past. Alex Vinatzer's focus is on the 2 slaloms in Flachau.

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