Ski legend Gustav Thöni: “We had a hell of a rush”

In the 70s, Gustav Thöni was - alongside the Swede Ingemar Stenmark - the best skier in the world. In an interview with s+, the now 69-year-old talked about, among other things, what has fundamentally changed in the Ski World Cup.

Thöni has achieved everything in his career. The transformer won the overall World Cup four times (4/1970, 71/1971, 1972/1972, 73/1974), was crowned world champion six times and Olympic champion once (75 in Sapporo). He also won the giant slalom world cup three times and the slalom world cup twice.

Thöni also enjoyed great success as a coach. For example, Alberto Tomba won the overall World Cup (1995), two world championship titles and one Olympic gold under his direction. Thöni has now withdrawn from the public eye. Together with his family, he runs the “Bella Vista” hotel in his hometown of Trafoi, which is also his parents’ house.

Mr. Thöni, how closely are you still following the Ski World Cup and who are you keeping your fingers crossed for?

Gustav Thöni: “If possible, I like to watch the races. Both those of men and those of women. Of course I support the South Tyroleans and the Italians because I was also active in the national association (FISI) for a long time. For the women, we are currently extremely strong with Brignone, Goggia and Bassino. In the men’s category we have many good South Tyrolean athletes such as Paris, Innerhofer, Mölgg and the young Vinatzer.”

In your time, a lot of things were different in the Ski World Cup. What are the biggest differences?

“Of course it's difficult to compare, it was just a different time (laughs). Of course, the slope preparation is much better these days. In our time there was only natural snow. That's why the piste was often too soft or full of holes. Now this is perhaps only the case 2 or 3 times per season. We didn't have any safety nets either, which means that safety is more important these days. The material has also evolved. Everything has become much faster. We had much longer skis and always braked before corners.”

<a data-caption="Legendär: Das Weltcup-Finale 1975 in Gröden, als Thöni (links) sich im abschließenden Parallel-Slalom gegen Stenmark durchsetzte und den Gesamtweltcup holte. © Hotel Bella Vista" data-fancybox="inline-71054" target="_image" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1280x1280/img/2020/12/legendaer-das-weltcup-finale-1975-in-groeden-als-thoeni-links-sich-im-abschliessenden-parallel-slalom-gegen-stenmark-durchsetzte-und-den-gesamtweltcup.jpg"> Legendary: The 1975 World Cup final in Val Gardena, when Thöni (left) prevailed against Stenmark in the final parallel slalom and won the overall World Cup. © Hotel Bella Vista

What has changed off the piste?

“A lot too. Even when I was still the men's head coach, a lot of things were different than when I was active. At the 1972 Sapporo Olympics, for example, there were two wooden poles at the finish line. At the finish area, the Japanese organizers immediately took off our skis because we weren't allowed to advertise the ski brand at the Olympics. There is no picture of me from Sapporo 1972 that shows me with my skis.”

“We certainly weren’t saints.” Nowadays you are no longer just a racer, but also a marketing product. Are you glad that you drove back then and that you were spared a lot?

“I can’t really estimate that (laughs). We had a great time back then and also had a lot of fun together off the piste. We also went out together from time to time. There were also many Swiss, Austrians and French people there. We got along well with each other, had a lot of excitement and were certainly no saints. The media landscape has of course changed completely. Today, as a runner you have to be careful when you go to a disco. In addition, there are now many more press and sponsorship appointments. Combined with all the traveling in the winter, that means a lot of stress.”

Let's take a quick look back at your career: Looking back, what would you say were the highlights?

“Those were the Olympic Games, be it in Sapporo in 1972 or four years later in Innsbruck. The atmosphere and everything surrounding it is simply more special at the games than at a World Cup or a World Cup. Athletes from various winter sports disciplines were met in the Olympic Village. Otherwise you only had to deal with the skiers.”

In the winter of 1974/75, Gustav Thöni and the Austrian Annemarie Moser-Pröll won the big crystal balls. © Hotel Bella Vista

You have also enjoyed great success as a coach – including with Alberto Tomba. Was he really as difficult to train as you might think?

“No, he wasn’t. Alberto certainly didn't like getting up early (laughs). But when he trained, he pulled himself together and was extremely ambitious. Otherwise he would not have celebrated these successes. He always wanted to be faster than the rest. Of course, he was also born with enormous talent. Overall, I got along really well with him after a period of getting used to each other. Even today we still have a close friendship.”

How melancholy do you look back on your time in the ski circus?

“I have had incredibly great experiences that I don’t want to miss. After my active time as a runner, I returned to the ski circus as a trainer after a short break, also because I missed this environment. In addition, I was able to pass on my experiences perfectly to the boys. At some point all the traveling became too much for me. I'm glad that I now have a lot of time for my family, which I didn't have before. I was always on the go, especially in winter.”

“It used to be tiring when you couldn’t walk through the streets at times” The hype around you has become less compared to before. How much are you enjoying this?

“I really enjoy that. It used to be tiring when you couldn't walk through the streets at times. I enjoy spending time with my family (his wife Ingrid, his 3 daughters and grandchildren; Note d. Red. ) and am attached to my homeland. I never thought about going somewhere else.”

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Ski legend Gustav Thöni: “We had a hell of a rush”

Gustav Thöni is South Tyrol's most successful skier of all time. The Vinschger has experienced everything in the ski circus, both as an athlete and as a trainer. Although he has largely withdrawn from the public eye, he was available for an interview.

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