This week, the red-white-red ski crossers held their traditional summer training course at the “Olympic Center Upper Austria” on the Linzer Gugl. In addition to a “meet & greet” of Christina Födermayr, Sonja Gigler, Katrin Ofner, Johannes Aujesky, Mathias Graf, Adam Kappacher, Johannes Rohrweck, Tristan Takats, Daniel Traxler and the young athletes Leonie Lussnig, Christoph Danksagmüller and Janik Sommerer with the Bundesliga footballers of LASK and a stadium tour of the Raiffeisen Arena, the program also included a judo session with Upper Austria state coach Michael Winkler and a ski cross workshop.
“At this workshop, we reviewed the past season and looked ahead to the coming seasons, which are extremely important for our division with the 2025 World Championships in St. Moritz, the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy and the 2027 World Championships at home in Montafon. With the summer courses, we are also strengthening our team structure. With judo, we not only got to know an interesting sport, but also set new training stimuli,” explained Markus Gutenbrunner, the sports director for ski cross.
No holding back on the judo mat
Johannes Rohrweck had to miss the judo session after shoulder and knee operations, but he was able to juggle the ball with the LASK players quite well again: “After the shoulder operation, I also had my knee fixed, so I had the complete service done straight away, just like with my car,” said the Upper Austrian with a wink. “I’m on the right track. It also helps that the World Cup in St. Moritz is not taking place until March 2025 and there is enough time to get in shape by then!”
For Rohrweck’s teammates, there was no holding back on the judo mat – as is to be expected from top athletes. Everyone flexed their muscles in various fighting and throwing techniques. “Judo puts a completely different strain on the body than training in the weight room, which is where we spend most of our time at the moment,” said Tristan Takats. Katrin Ofner quickly drew a comparison to her sport: “Just like on the slopes, you want to keep your opponent at bay on the mat!”
Parallels between football and ski cross
The connection between the ski cross team and LASK was made by Klaus Kumpfmüller, the president of the Upper Austrian Ski Association. “It is particularly interesting for the ski crossers to see how LASK works as a team and prepares for the upcoming tasks. On the other hand, the footballers can learn from the ski cross team’s approach to competitions,” emphasised Kumpfmüller. Christina Födermayr also drew parallels between ski cross and football: “In both sports, we have to make the right decisions at the right time. A small mistake can have big consequences.”
At the end of the “Meet & Greets”, the Upper Austrian trio Födermayr, Rohrweck and Traxler presented Tobias Lawal, Valon Berisha and Philipp Ziereis with an ÖSV hoodie, and in return the winter sports athletes received a jersey signed by all LASK players.
The 2024/25 Ski Cross World Cup season starts on December 12th and 13th in Val Thorens in France. The two home races on the Reiteralm in Styria will take place on January 16th and 17th. The World Championship medals in St. Moritz (SUI) will be awarded on March 22nd (individual) and March 23rd (team).
2024-07-05 11:12:36
#Skicross #team #LASK #judo #mat #ARF #Ausseer #Regionalfernsehen
