The boss from South Tyrol: He is forging Switzerland's World Cup luck

A young family man from the tranquil South Tyrolean mountain village of Truden rose to become a big name in the glamorous world of skiing on Saturday. He made two Swiss women into sports heroes for an entire nation. How is that possible?

16. February 2025

From Saalbach-Hinterglemm

From:
Alexander Foppa

The sun had long since disappeared behind the Zwölferkogel, the finish area in Hinterglemm was shrouded in frosty shadows. Heini Pfitscher was walking alone through the labyrinth of barriers that lead you towards the exit of the World Cup arena. Both hands hidden in his jacket pockets, a broad grin on his face. He was enjoying the moment in complete peace. About an hour and a half earlier, the 42-year-old had celebrated the greatest success of his career. One that made him famous throughout the skiing world.

Heini Pfitscher's cumbersome job title is: Head of the World Cup Slalom and Giant Slalom Mastery Group in the Swiss Ski team. In short, he is the boss of the Swiss technicians. And since Saturday, he has been the World Champion coach. His protégés Camille Rast and Wendy Holdener have won the slalom conquered gold and silver in one fell swoop"It is the most beautiful moment in my coaching life," says Pfitscher in a calm voice as he leaves the scene of the triumph.

"These are alpha animals. They know what they want" Pfitscher about the medal winners

Pfitscher is searching for the right words, while far away in the background a cheering crowd of coaches, support staff and athletes are cheering on the World Cup heroes. "We had hopes of a medal, but I never dreamed that it would turn out like this," he says. Rast is the leader in the Slalom World Cup, and Holdener has already celebrated great successes. Pfitscher describes her and her teammates as "absolute alpha animals who know exactly what they want. As a coach, it is a pleasure to work with such personalities."

Heini Pfitscher (bottom right) is happy with the Swiss team. © APA/afp / FABRICE COFFRINI

For a long time, Pfitscher was an unknown quantity on the big ski stage. To outsiders' surprise, he rose from European Cup coach to head of the technical team. He took over the position in the summer from his South Tyrolean coach colleague Luis Prenn. The two are just two of a total of nine local coaches who work for the skiing superpower Switzerland. "As South Tyroleans, we are not only very close geographically. We have no language barrier, a similar approach. The cogs mesh together," explains the man from the Unterland region.

From Truden to the big (ski) world

Pfitscher lives with his wife and two children in Truden, but works in Switzerland. And has been doing so for five years now. Before that, he trained the Italian giant slalom skiers and the South Tyrolean national team. "In Switzerland, there is a great structure, good supervisors, service people, trainers and, last but not least, athletes." Is that the reason for the Swiss's incredible twelve World Championship medals? "For Cami and Wendy, it's the absolute will. They won their medals with uncompromising runs," says the coach.

Wendy Holdener and Camille Rast present their medals. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

We have one more question before we let Pfitscher leave the finish stadium: How did he experience the rain of medals from Franjo von Allmen, Marco Odermatt and co.? "Of course we were happy for them," he says, but then adds in a more serious tone: "And on the other hand, they increased the pressure on the women's team." This has now been lifted. Now everyone, Swiss men and women, can enjoy the triumphs. Heini Pfitscher too. At the party in the team quarters that evening, he was probably no longer alone, but right in the middle of it all.