This is how the ski problem child wants to return to its old strength

Liensberger smiled bravely and waved the entire time. When she unsuccessfully tried to restart during the World Cup in France after the separation from star coach Livio Magoni became inevitable. And also when the slalom best of the 2020/21 season regularly had to worry about qualifying for the second round at the end of the season. “In the end, I waved at the camera last year because I was just happy skiing,” said Liensberger, looking back on a season without podiums and only three top ten placements.

Liensberger also recently put on her most professional smile at the association's fashion show in Salzburg. And before the catwalk appearance, when she outlined her comeback plans to the top in front of journalists. “I’m really excited that the season is starting. Of course I know that I'm not in an easy starting position. Especially when it comes to the starting number, when it comes to the past. But I want to look positively into the future, continue to work consistently and take step by step." In the World Cup start list she slipped to 21st place in the slalom and 20th in the giant slalom. According to the numbers, she is doing well in both disciplines ("I feel "I'm equally comfortable in both") as Austria's number three in the season.

Away from Magoni, back into the team The tough Magoni school was turned away. “I was fully behind it, but that wasn’t my path. The most important thing at the moment is to get back to my skiing and my basic technique,” said Liensberger about the ongoing work that is now happening as a more permanent part of the technical team.

Katharina Liensberger wants to get back to the top of the world. © ANSA / Guillaume Horcajuelo

In the “WC Technik” group of four Katharinas – Troupe, Huber, Gallhuber and Liensberger – and Lisa Hörhager, there are no longer any special treatments. The collaboration with mental coach Mathias Berthold is now also loose, said Liensberger. “I know that I can get in touch if I need anything.” Mother Herlinde, who has always supported her daughter at her races, will have to stay at home in the future at the urging of the association.

The media support and probably also the measure itself were less well received in Liensberger's house. Explanatory homepage articles were written, and a few days before Sölden the case was “no longer an issue” for Liensberger. In the Vorarlberg news Herlinde Liensberger recently explained: “I was never my daughter’s manager, and certainly not a sports advisor. So light years away from a Hirscher or Shiffrin model. I simply took over a lot of organizational things from Katharina, which drain a lot of energy from those involved in this sport.”

Team spirit should give you wings There should be no support vacuum in the broad-based ÖSV. Alpine boss Herbert Mandl also wants the “huge change” for Liensberger to be seen as a team-building measure. “It is important for them if their connection to the team improves. You can also draw a lot of energy from a healthy team spirit.” The athlete said in this context: “You can push yourself so well together that you can go to a higher level. I noticed it back then when I was driving with Mikaela (Shiffrin) and Petra (Vlhova) at the front.”

Shiffrin recently spoke highly of her competitor Liensberger. “She's an incredible skier, her swing is beautiful.” Every athlete has ups and downs. “It's much more complex than just the racing performance. There are personal things, changes in the staff, higher expectations after successful seasons, busier schedules,” the US star listed. “I have no doubt that she will come back strong.” Liensberger said: “Of course I hope that I can show off my skiing in the first race. But it definitely takes time and patience.”

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This is how the ski problem child wants to return to its old strength

Katharina Liensberger looks ahead. The 2021 slalom world champion wants to put her epidemic season behind her in a new environment.

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