With a world championship worthy warm-up programme together with Benni Raich and a review of the World Cup cross-country skiing track together with the mentors David Kreiner and Mario Stecher, the cadre athletes of the Austrian Disabled Sports Association started their preparations for the 2023 Virtus Ski World Championships in Seefeld on 8 December.
The official launch event took place in the Seefeld Sports Arena in the presence of numerous supporters and representatives of the municipality, state and federal government and the ÖBSV.
For the World Championships for people with mental disabilities, held for the first time on Austrian soil, the athletes have high expectations and even more motivation. The first exchange at eye level with the mentors for both disciplines raises their self-esteem above all.
A lack of snow prevented classic ski training between the gate poles, so the schedule was changed at short notice to ski gymnastics and race preparation in the run-out of the ski jump. The two-time Olympic champion and alpine mentor of the World Championships, Benni Raich, was allowed to share many of his tips and tricks.
“It’s all been discussed already. The tips have to remain secret, of course,” says the three-time World Champion mischievously, “Michael Konrad also trains with our training group at Hochzeiger time and again. It is very, very
nice to see the enthusiasm. I love this unfiltered way the most and it is a great enrichment for all of us.”
After a first joint training session on the official World Cup cross-country skiing track exactly one year ago, the Nordic Director of the Austrian Ski Federation and mentor of the Virtus Ski World Championships, Mario Stecher, was once again able to exchange ideas with the Nordic athletes. “With joy you can do a lot and then
success will follow!