Vera Tschurtschenthaler and her slightly different ski career

When we reached Tschurtschenthaler on the phone, she had just returned from Milan, where the first physical tests of the season were on the agenda. “Everything went smoothly,” says the courteous, friendly 23-year-old from Sexten. The fact that she is where she is now is mainly thanks to the Italian Championships last year, where she distanced herself from the competition by almost a second with two fantastic runs. This was Tschurtschenthaler's last straw that she could cling to. Because at this point her career was already in jeopardy and retirement was on the cards. Talent discovered early on But first things first: Tschurtschenthaler was born on March 30, 1997 in Innichen and was put on skis for the first time “at the age of six or seven”. She quickly learned the craft - mainly thanks to her father Roman, with whom she trained a lot on her own when she was young. Tschurtschenthaler realized that she wanted to become a skier when she was in middle school when she was ahead in most races. She took the next step at the business college in San Candido, which, according to Tschurtschenthaler, “takes a lot of consideration for the athletes.” She claims that school education can be easily combined with a sporting career there, as she was accepted into the national squad at the age of 19.

She is South Tyrol's greatest slalom talent: Vera Tschurtschenthaler © Dennis De Martin Photo

The expulsion followed just 12 months later. The South Tyrolean wanted to keep fighting because she continued to believe in herself. Nevertheless, the time was not an easy one, on the contrary: “I got into a bit of a crisis,” admits Tschurtschenthaler. On the one hand it was a “mega-expense”, but on the other hand her father had to accompany her everywhere. “I had many moments when I wanted to give up everything.” She is all the happier that she gritted her teeth. After two years away from the national team, she made her comeback in an impressive way.

How? With the aforementioned Italian championship in Cortina last year, when she took the butter off her competitors' bread as a blatant outsider. “I don’t know exactly how I did it myself. During the season I got a few appearances in the European Cup, but I always had to start with very high numbers and couldn't exploit my potential," says the Puster native. When she stood at the start in Cortina, she knew it was her last chance. “I was extremely focused and gave it my all.” Everything worked out for her just as she had imagined. 13 hundredths were missing Those responsible at the Italian Winter Sports Association could not turn a blind eye to Tschurtschenthaler's talent. Rejoining the national team was the logical consequence. The 23-year-old immediately repaid the trust placed in her by the trainers last winter. In the European Cup she consistently finished in the top 20, and on her debut in the World Cup in Kranjska Gora she only missed the second round by 13 hundredths. “It was bitter, of course, but I was just happy that I drove well. I was free in my head,” emphasizes Tschurtschenthaler, who studies sports, tourism and event management at the University of Bruneck. Next season she wants to consistently finish in the top 10 in the European Cup and also demonstrate her skills in World Cup races.

Vera Tschurtschenthaler is still missing a sports group.

But Tschurtschenthaler has not yet reached the end of her journey, which is marked by obstacles. Although she is one of the most promising young talents, she does not belong to any sports group; instead, she still competes for the ASC Gsiesertal. She doesn’t know why that is: “I don’t have an answer to that. After my Italian championship title, I took part in two competitions, but other athletes were preferred to me. This spring I applied again – and I hope it finally works out.” It’s time to receive a scholarship, she says. She definitely deserved it.

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Vera Tschurtschenthaler and her slightly different ski career

She is South Tyrol's best slalom runner, but Vera Tschurtschenthaler has not yet reached the end of her rocky, arduous path. The Pustertal native talks to SportNews about her remarkable skiing career and reveals, among other things, why it was hanging by a thread.

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