This South Tyrolean has shaped the Swiss ski stars

“He's a fine person, a top trainer who prefers to work in the background,” that's not what Gut-Behrami or Suter say, but one of their competitors, Nicol Delago. We hear this description again and again as we search for clues in Méribel. All we know so far is that his name is Roland Platzer, he lives in St. Valentin auf der Haide and, as a coach, he is responsible for the incredible successes of the Swiss speed women in recent years.

Under Platzer's leadership, Suter won the Olympic downhill in Beijing, the downhill world championship title in Cortina and a total of four more World Cup medals. Gut has won an incredible eight medals at major events in recent years, including three gold medals in Beijing and Cortina. There are also further successes for the Swiss ski women in the World Cup.

Here Roland Platzer and Corinne Suter are happy about gold in the downhill and silver in the Super-G in Cortina in 2021.

Only at this World Cup things are not going as planned for the Swiss. This is probably why we hardly get our hands on Platzer when we research the World Cup venue. He took the Super-G, Gut-Behrami's signature discipline, but the World Championship race was a disappointment with a huge mistake and sixth place. Afterwards, the trainers and athletes had to work meticulously for days.

And that is exactly what sets Platzer apart: meticulous work. A trained eye for technology and lines. Passionate about organizing and planning the best possible training options. The latter always takes him to South Tyrol with his women's team, which he took over ten years ago and built up almost from scratch. “We trained a lot in Ulten before the World Cup, we were also in Toblach and Watles,” reveals Platzer when he finally finds time to do it in the middle of preparing for the women’s downhill SportNews -Introduce readers themselves in a little more detail. “You have to listen, be empathetic and talk a lot.” Platzer about his job as women's coach In the almost twenty-minute conversation, you can repeatedly notice how the 44-year-old tries to fade into the background, preferring to focus on the slopes rather than on himself. His experience certainly plays into his hands. He has been working in Switzerland for 22 years, and for years he worked alongside big stars like Didier Cuche and Didier Defago. He can handle media hype. “Skiing is extremely important in Switzerland and working there is a privilege,” says Platzer.

Roland Platzer training with Didier Defago (l.) in 2010. © Robert Perathoner

The work itself has changed fundamentally for him over the years. While the men's team used to be all about athleticism, dynamism and speed, the Obervinschger is now often in demand as a pastor for the women's team. “The human side is much more challenged. You have to be able to listen, be empathetic and talk a lot,” says Platzer, but at the same time he emphasizes: “The women are more hard-working and incredibly consistent in their training. That’s a lot of fun.”

Lara Gut-Behrami trusts him Platzer knows his craft. This is also proven by the good relationship he has with Gut-Behrami. The demanding Ticino native used to be a de facto one-woman team in the Swiss association, but now she is specifically looking to train with the South Tyrolean. “With her staff, Lara still has a kind of team within the team,” says Platzer. But she attaches great importance to a coordinated framework and he can offer that to her. “Lara is not as complicated as it might seem on the outside. Over the years I think I have understood what makes her tick, which is how I was able to gain her trust. And trust is everything in skiing.”

Strengthened by mutual trust, Gut-Behrami will once again be chasing a World Championship medal in the downhill on Saturday. The situation is different for downhill world champion Corinne Suter fell badly in Cortina and haven't really found my way since then. “With her, too, we plan every step very precisely,” says Platzer, reflecting his focus on detail. “It’s a question of mentality. The Swiss always have to do everything very precisely, I think that has long since rubbed off on me," he grins and adds: "As a 'Hoader', I only live not far from Switzerland." “Your go-getter mentality is impressive.” Roland Platzer about Goggia, Brignone & Co. Platzer uses every World Cup and training break to visit his wife and little son at home in Reschen. In terms of sport, however, he no longer feels connected to Italy at all because “that was just far too long ago.” Nevertheless, he emphasizes: “The daredevil mentality of Goggia, Brignone & Co. is impressive. While the skiers in Switzerland and Austria are born with a lot, the Italians often have to push hard. That obviously sticks with them.”

In sentences like these you can see Platzer's passion for skiing. It's these moments in which it flows freely out of him, the few moments in which he doesn't hold back and - probably unconsciously - allows the focus to be on himself and all his enormous wealth of knowledge.

Profile: Roland Platzer Date of Birth 16 December 1978 Place of Birth Merano City of residence St. Valentine on the Haide Family Married, 1 child (6 years) Hobbies Mountain biking, fishing, hiking, motor sports Vocational Training Trainer licenses in Italy, Austria, Switzerland Trainer stations 2001-03 Eastern Swiss Ski Association, 2003-05 European Cup Men's Switzerland, 2005-13 World Cup Speed Team Men's Switzerland, since 2013 World Cup Speed Team Women's Switzerland

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This South Tyrolean has shaped the Swiss ski stars

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