FIS boss Eliasch under fire: “He has no idea”

“I gave Eliasch my vote at the time because I believed that, as a successful entrepreneur, he would bring new, profitable ideas to skiing. But now I unfortunately have to say that he has absolutely no idea about this business,” Schröcksnadel is quoted as saying in an interview with the Swiss tabloid Blick. The extremely wealthy Eliasch has been active as FIS President for almost two years.

The current North American races in Aspen and Palisades Tahoe are particularly annoying for Schröcksnadel. He had assumed that the USA races would be broadcast live on North American TV. The aim was to make skiing more popular overseas, which is why Schröcksnadel agreed to Eliasch's suggestion. Now it emerged: Not a single race was broadcast live. The FIS reacted to Schröcksnadel’s accusations and countered: “The statements are not true.”

“Eliasch overestimates himself, but also completely overestimates skiing. Interest in alpine racing is very limited.” Peter Schröcksnadel

The ski aces are - also for ecological reasons - almost across the board against the North American races in February and March. The Swiss slalom ace Daniel Yule said: “This is absolute madness for me. The speed riders are flying overseas for the second time this winter, we slalom specialists for a single race. This travel no longer fits into our times.” Eliasch says: “The additional trip across the Atlantic is not of great importance compared to other items in our climate balance. The USA is a huge, global market.” Peter Schröcksnadel is no longer ÖSV boss, but is still involved in many discussions. © APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH

Schröcksnadel cannot understand this: “Flying there twice a season is absolute stupidity under the current conditions. Eliasch overestimates himself, but also completely overestimates skiing. Interest in alpine racing is very limited. In the USA, football, baseball and basketball are untouchable; not even king football has really established itself there. It's similar in Asia. As a result, we should focus primarily on the market where skiing can move the masses. And that’s Europe.”

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FIS boss Eliasch under fire: “He has no idea”

Johan Eliasch is slowly but surely running out of supporters. Now long-time ÖSV boss Peter Schröcksnadel has spoken out about the Swede – and criticized him heavily. The Austrian was once a supporter of Eliasch.

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