From the Marlene Cup to the premier class

If you take a close look at Laura Steinmair's career, you quickly realize that it involves hard work, a lot of commitment, assertiveness and willingness to sacrifice. In contrast to many of her competitors, the Olanger woman only made it into the national team this year through the so-called Gran Premio Italia. In the previous seasons she trained alternately with the local national squad and the Carabinieri, where she was only tesserated and not registered. Steinmair doesn’t (yet) belong to a sports group: “Maybe it will work this summer,” she says hopefully. A big boost In any case, the South Tyrolean, who competed in the Marlene Cup last winter, has achieved a real explosion in performance by being promoted to the C group of the national team. In mid-January she made it into the top 30 of the European Cup for the first time in Orcieres-Merlette (France), and in Kopaonik (Serbia) and Maribor (Slovenia) she reached ranks 14, 15 and 16. In doing so, she also left some World Cup-experienced runners well behind behind.

A bench in the giant slalom: Laura Steinmair © SKILV

Steinmair knows what this rapid rise can be attributed to. “The fact that I am now in the national team is definitely one reason. There you train with athletes who have the same level, which of course suits you,” she explains. Better dry training in summer also plays a big role. Goals exceeded Steinmair couldn't have dreamed before the season that things would go so well. “I exceeded my goals,” she admits. “I wanted to do well in the FIS races and also compete in the European Cup. But the fact that I ended up so far ahead is surprising.” Given these results, it wouldn’t be at all unexpected if the graduate of the sports school in Ortisei were nominated for the World Cup this season. However, she doesn't waste any thought on that. “I'm happy that things are going so well in the European Cup and the FIS races, so I'm concentrating on that. If it doesn’t work this year, then maybe next year,” says Steinmair in a down-to-earth manner. There are also other athletes “who drive very well”.

Laura Steinmair is one of the up-and-coming ski talents.

If she were actually nominated for the World Cup, a childhood dream would come true. “Ever since I was little and my father, who is a ski instructor, put me on skis for the first time, I have been fascinated by the sport. “It was always my dream to get to the World Cup,” she says. In which discipline it doesn't matter. Although Steinmair is currently rated as much stronger in the giant slalom, she doesn't want to ignore the slalom. “My dream was always to get to the World Cup.” Laura Steinmair Whether World Cup or not: Steinmair has achieved what not many can. Since joining the national team, she has improved massively, achieved good results straight away and has put together strong arguments to ensure that she will also receive one of the coveted places in the national teams in the coming season.

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From the Marlene Cup to the premier class

She has an eventful history behind her, is only 21 years old and - if you take the current results into account - is currently South Tyrol's best giant slalom player. About Laura Steinmair and a career that hasn't always been steep.

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