ÖSV defends 2nd overseas trip: "If the Swiss do it..."

Europe's hot summer forced Austria's ski team to reschedule their season preparations.

After the first training block in South America in August, the teams returned home. Because subsequent snow training in Switzerland was not possible as planned, the ÖSV downhill trio Vincent Kriechmayr, Daniel Hemetsberger, and Stefan Eichberger spontaneously jetted back overseas at the beginning of October.

A trip that was critically viewed, as tons of material also had to be very expensively transported halfway around the world again. The Swiss team, however, stored its equipment in a cargo hall in Chile but then opted against another trip to South America.

Stecher: "It was the only option"

ÖSV Sports Director Mario Stecher defends the Austrian downhillers' second training block in Chile to LAOLA1:

"From our side, it was the only option," said Stecher. "When you see the condition of our glaciers, you can currently only train slalom or giant slalom there at most. So, it was absolutely the right step."

Furthermore, they had the opportunity to train with other nations overseas. An important comparison with regard to the start of the season. "So it was definitely worth it for us," says Stecher.

Feller: "If the Swiss were to do it..."

ÖSV tech ace Manuel Feller also defends his speed colleagues.

"I don't think it's good that it's being criticized like this. If the Swiss were to do it, people would say: Of course, they're outpacing us, they're investing twice as much, they're flying there twice."

The second overseas trip was well thought out by the ÖSV. "Vincent Kriechmayr doesn't take a single step that he hasn't thoroughly considered," Feller notes.

Whether the additional training in Chile has paid off for Austria's downhillers will become clear by the end of November at the latest. That's when the speed season kicks off in Copper Mountain.