Et has been a lot going on at Linus Straßer in the past few weeks. Not only because the German ski racer repeatedly competed for the World Cup podium and was preparing for the World Championships in France. Especially because he and his wife Maria became parents of a daughter in December. These days they are separated: his wife and their daughter share the fever at home when slalom specialist Straßer attacks at the world championships. Alongside Lena Dürr, the 30-year-old is one of the greatest German hopes in France.
WELT: Mr. Straßer, so far you have won an Olympic and a World Championship medal with the team. It’s time for an individual medal, isn’t it?
Linus Strasser: Yes, the time is ripe. The problem is that a lot of people think so. And just as the past two or three years have gone in men’s slalom, a lot of athletes have the chance because the level of performance is extremely high. Some of them may not have been the most consistent recently, but they can still ski incredibly fast. And at major events, athletes sometimes appear at the top who supposedly do not belong to the group of favourites.
WELT: However, they have consistently performed well.
Strasser: Absolutely. And that’s also very important, because in slalom it’s all in your head. And that’s where consistency helps to be mentally strong. It doesn’t always have to be the podium, but scratching it also boosts self-confidence and motivation. I’ve been able to build up security over the course of this season. These are important building blocks so that I can now stand at the start of the World Championships and say: ‘I’m challenging for a medal and sometimes I’ll take a little more risk.’ Striking that balance between aggressiveness and control isn’t easy. You need this as a matter of course. And I think I have that at the moment.
Linus Straßer celebrates third place in Adelboden at the beginning of January
What: pa/dpa/KEYSTONE/Jean-Christophe Bott
WELT: How important would the World Cup medal be to you?
Strasser: Of course it would be amazing, no question. And yes, it’s also a dream of mine to create something like that. But if it doesn’t work out because others are simply faster, then that’s the way it is – that’s the competition. And then the world will keep turning the next day.
WELT: It’s been almost ten years since your World Cup debut – how did you approach a race in the past?
Strasser: I’ve made a lot of progress since then. I used to be in such a must-have attitude, especially during competitions.
WELT: What do you mean exactly?
Strasser: That I thought: ‘Today is the day, today is the World Cup, now I HAVE to perform. This is very important.’ And that can backfire, can inhibit. And then it’s a situation that doesn’t feel nice. Of course I know now that it counts. That’s clear, and that’s what you need. But above all, I have to concentrate fully on what I have to do at the moment: ski fast, but don’t want to do it too much, but still stay completely focused. What course do I have? How is the underground? Then just pull through. If I can do all that and do a good job, then it’s okay if others were faster. Of course, it’s frustrating when I know that I was standing in my own way. That’s bitter then. But the chances are good that the day of the slalom race of this World Cup can be a very nice one.
To date, Straßer has made it onto the podium ten times in the World Cup, of which he has landed at the top three times
What: AP
WELT: Probably the biggest change outside of sport was only a few weeks ago: you became a father. How difficult and at the same time joyful was it to experience that in the middle of the World Cup winter? They couldn’t stay home long.
Strasser: It’s just a wonderful time that I really enjoy. I don’t know if you can say in your life, ‘Now it totally fits me.’ Something is always. But the most important thing: It feels wonderful, and that’s why it’s also suitable for me. Sometimes it may not be easy to reconcile everything, but others also master such challenges.
WELT: What does that do to your athletic performance – does it make you stronger or rather the opposite?
Strasser: When I’m at home these days, it’s only for a few days. And then of course I want to spend time with my wife and our daughter. Of course, things have shifted a bit, but I don’t judge that for myself, so I say: “Now I get less involved in conventional training, I have more on my plate and that limits my performance.” I simply accept that how it is. All in all, there are far too many good things about the situation. And I’m convinced that I can still do my best. That’s why I think: It inspires me that I’m a dad now.
WELT: To what extent has your daughter already changed your perspective on sport and life in such a short time?
Strasser: You always come under pressure in sport. That was the case recently in Kitzbühel, for example. After the first round I was in fourth place, with my back against the wall. I didn’t have many opportunities: either I drive with a lot of heart, get the best out of it and then know I still have a chance of getting on the podium, or I manage it somehow and end up tenth.
WELT: The latter makes little sense in top-level sport.
Strasser: At least not for me. So I always only have this one option, which I also like. Nevertheless, it is of course a situation in which I feel the tension and the pressure very much. Then knowing that if it doesn’t work out because I’m retiring or falling behind, I’ll just go home afterwards, where my wife and child are waiting for me. My wife, who is looking forward to seeing me, and our child, who doesn’t notice any of this anyway and just laughs at me.
WELT: You yourself grew up with skiing thanks to your parents’ passion. Were you able to walk or ski first?
Strasser: (laughs) I can’t quite remember it, but I felt like skiing from a very early age. Be it that I stood in my parents’ bedroom at 6 a.m. in full gear and asked when we were finally going to go skiing. My parents showed me this interest in sports in general and in skiing in particular. But, I have to say this: My family had no contact with competitive sport. This was new territory for all of us. And it’s exciting and cool to watch the whole family grow into it.
WELT: And apart from this World Cup – what other dreams would you like to fulfill in this sport? You live in Kitzbühel…
Strasser: Of course there are races where I would like to be on the podium. Kitzbuehel, of course. Unfortunately, at the end of January it was not enough by 2/100 for second place and by 1/100 for third place. It was extremely close and it hurt. I couldn’t have imagined that fourth place in the World Cup would hurt so much. But I still firmly believe that one day I will be on the podium there. That would be a very, very nice event for me.
WELT: One final question: What will you reward yourself with after this World Cup season, even if there is not much time left before training starts again?
Strasser: We have a two-week break – and then it’s back to fitness training. I just want to go on vacation with my wife and our daughter. Heading west, to the Atlantic coast of France, I will also take my racing bike with me. Maybe even three weeks at a time. Just be for us. Now I only get to see the little one for three days at a time and then of course I try to relieve my wife a bit, but I can do a lot more on vacation and really start life with the two of them. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most.
