Karoline Pichler's new beginning

At first she was badly injured. Then the sporting achievements stopped. And after she fought her way back almost single-handedly last season, Karoline Pichler is now facing another new start to her eventful career.

And yet it is always somehow different. “Recently I always came back from serious injuries. Now it's completely different. I was out of the window for sporting reasons and in a hopeless situation. I was a long way from the national team, but I fought my way back. I know where I come from and I'm glad it worked out. But the bottom line is that it's all about one thing: skiing fast. What was no longer counts.” Pichler was actually away from the window Karoline Pichler was actually totally out of the window at the beginning of the last ski winter. Know-it-alls even suggested that she resign after a botched 2019/20 season. Especially since she had slipped to 174th place in the giant slalom and 156th place in the Super-G in the FIS rankings. But the woman from Petersberg is a born fighter. Together with the police sports group, the support of her ski company Head and the waxing skills of her father Karl, she took on the fight.

Starting from the first race of the season, an FIS giant slalom in Pfelders, she was under constant pressure to qualify. “I had to get on the podium there in order to qualify for the next European Cup. That worked out with 2nd place.” But the first 2 European Cups were devastating: in the first she was eliminated, in the 2nd she missed qualifying for the 2nd run of the top 60. So the 3rd European Cup giant slalom was in Andalo/Paganella another final. Pichler stayed strong, finished 54th with start number 13 and gained the self-confidence that was her constant companion from then on. She also drove better and better in the Super-G, which resulted in an improvement in the start lists. In the end there were 6 top 10 placements in the European Cup including 2 podium places (3rd in the Livigno giant slalom, 2nd in the Super-G Val di Fassa). This resulted in 10th place in the overall standings - and a return to the women's speed world cup team. A strong training group She feels right at home there with the Delago sisters Nicol and Nadia, Elena Curtoni, Francesca Marsaglia, Roberta Melesi and Laura Pirovano, who has been injured for a week. “We are a cool group. I can learn a lot from everyone. How the Delago's can glide is incredible. Marsaglia, Curtoni and Melesi have their technical strengths – so I can learn something from all of them.” “Sölden comes too early for everyone, but of course everyone is happy to take it. Caroline Pichler Because the 26-year-old's knee slightly hurt in August and she had to take a short break from skiing, she has “only” 30 days of skiing until the start of the season in Sölden. Normally there are around 7 to 10 more. No problem for Pichler: “Sölden comes too early for everyone, but of course everyone is happy to take it. Like last year, we missed important training days in Argentina and Chile, but that was the same for everyone. We had good conditions here too, but I haven't trained much or at all in the fast disciplines. I hope I can take a step forward at the training camp in Copper Mountain in the USA from the beginning of November.”

Karoline Pichler is pinning her hopes on the giant slalom, where she wants to really polish up her meager track record - only one place in the World Cup points in 28 starts. But she also wants to gain a foothold in the Super-G: “I like to take part in this discipline, and I proved in the European Cup that I can drive fast there. Whether I will start in Lake Louise will be decided at short notice. But the plan is for me to compete in both Super-Gs in St. Moritz in mid-December at the latest.”

And Sölden? The Unterlander has never scored points there in four starts so far. That should change on Saturday. “I'm good on the skis, I can do fast passages and I'm ready for the fight from top to bottom. In Sölden, little things make a difference. If you miss the steep slope entrance, you can pack up. If you can't find the rhythm, you can pack up. It’s always a huge struggle.” Pichler's friend is out with an injury And then there is the chapter with Sebastian Holzmann, her friend from the German slalom team. He was seriously injured two months ago (dislocation of the kneecap, torn ligaments and cartilage damage) and has to write off the entire season. “He has only just given up the crutches and is currently doing rehab. Although I was able to give him a lot of tips based on my medical history, it took a lot out of me at the beginning. Almost more than if I had hurt myself. His injury is serious, but we are confident that he will come back stronger.”

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Karoline Pichler's new beginning

She will be competing in Sölden for the 5th time on Saturday. And yet it will be a new beginning for Karoline Pichler. The umpteenth of her ski career.

Suggestions

Comments (0)

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Karoline Pichler's new beginning

She will be competing in Sölden for the 5th time on Saturday. And yet it will be a new beginning for Karoline Pichler. The umpteenth of her ski career.

More on this topic

Records, victories, disappointments: 7 ski predictions

Suggestions

Comments (0)