In the summer on construction, in the winter on the World Cup stage

It was a smooth transition: Siegmar Klotz and no longer Stefan Thanei is the head coach of the national ski cross team. Because Thanei moved to the Swiss and Klotz had to end his career after a serious injury, it was a logical solution. For the former downhill skier, who has been a ski crosser for the last 5 years, it is a very attractive task. He can lead a young, highly talented team of 5 men and 2 women to become the world's best.

With the 22-year-old leader Simone Deromedis from Trentino leading the way (last year 2 World Cup podiums, plus 5th at the Olympics), 2 South Tyroleans also belong to the “Azzurri” ski cross team: Yanick Gunsch (25) and Dominik Zuech (26). Both have had an unconvincing World Cup winter. They are starting their third World Cup season this year and have a clear goal in mind: to reach the round of 3.

Siegmar Klotz (front) is no longer an athlete, but a coach.

Preparation for the season was difficult because of the extreme heat in the summer. Glacier skiing on the Stelvio Pass was stopped in mid-July and only resumed in September. That's why more fitness training was called for, most recently in the Pitztal in North Tyrol and on the Senales Glacier the snow training that was lost in the summer was made up for.

Yanick Gunsch The trained bricklayer, who is not only indispensable on his parents' farm in Matsch, but is also employed at Hofer Tiefbau in Prad and works there as a road worker during the summer, is making a new attempt. His first full World Cup season didn't go as planned. Only in Arosa did he make it into the knockout phase in 21st place, otherwise he was left out. “I tend to overdo it, to want too much. Then I make mistakes, even in qualifying.” Yanick Gunsch Date and place of birth January 16, 1997 in Zug/Switzerland City of residence Matsch (mud) About us SV Prad Gunsch thinks extremely highly of the new head coach Siegmar Klotz: “He gives us self-confidence, talks to us a lot and knows the material well.” Gunsch skis on Elan skis, but has switched to Head ski boots.

Dominik Zuech Just like Yanick Gunsch, Zuech also has to finance his ski cross career himself. In the spring and summer he was employed by an orchardist and managed to rise from a simple worker to a “tractor driver” (Zuech’s original sound). From July he was released half the day for Kondi training.

Zuech achieved three top-3 finishes last year, but was not satisfied with that. “I was in great shape at the start of the season, so I put too much pressure on myself and was completely tense as a result. I have to loosen up, there is room for improvement at the start too.” Dominik Zuech Date and place of birth February 25, 1996 in Bolzano City of residence Wool About us SC Druscié Cortina d'Ampezzo The Atomic driver raves about the great atmosphere in the “Azzurri” team and is convinced that in the wake of teammate Simone Deromedis, everyone else will be able to achieve major improvements in performance. The World Cup races from the beginning of December will show whether this is successful.

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In the summer on construction, in the winter on the World Cup stage

At the beginning of December the ski crossers start the new World Cup season. Then two local athletes, Yanick Gunsch and Dominik Zuech, also want to be involved in the concert of the big ones. The two South Tyroleans share a special history.

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