Lenzerheide: Strobl retires in classic style

By Published On: March 15th, 2007Comments Off on Lenzerheide: Strobl retires in classic style

Fritz Strobl finished almost a minute back in the World Cup Finals super G Thursday. But this time, he wasn’t looking for where he could have picked up more speed.
LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland — Fritz Strobl finished almost a minute back in the World Cup Finals super G Thursday. But this time, he wasn’t looking for where he could have picked up more speed.
    “Yeah, it was amazing. My emotions were so big so it’s almost the greatest day of my career,” Strobl, 34, said after skiing down the Silvano Beltrametti course in nonchalant fashion, dressed in a Mozart wig and black coat. The scoreboard would not get the best of Strobl this time. It was a fitting retirement run for the 2002 Olympic downhill champion.
    “Yeah, it’s the perfect way [to end his career],” he said. “I decided from my heart, not my brain, so it was a good decision. I’m happy now. It was the right thing to do.”
    Strobl scooted out of the start house and made a few turns before veering off to the side of the course and shaking hands with some course workers. He waved to cheering fans around every bend and descended the final pitch to loud applause to the ever-so-polite Swiss fans.
     “When I was a little child, I never expected that I could win an Olympic downhill. Now it’s great for me. I never had big expectations because I’m an easygoing guy,” Strobl said.
    He won’t race in the tech events or Friday’s nations team event (“No one asked me,” Strobl said of the team event), so Strobl wraps up his career with nine World Cup wins. After Thursday, he’s 26th in the overall standings, 15th in both downhill and super G.
    Strobl's demeanor and leadership — he often spoke with fellow racers on how to improve the sport — made him a favorite among his peers. “He was a great example for me,” said Antoine Deneriaz, the 2006 Olympic downhill champion.
    American Steven Nyman is just a pup on the World Cup tour compared to Strobl, but the two shared the podium when Nyman won the Val Gardena downhill Dec. 16 and Strobl was third.
    “I got to beat him this year, which is nice,” Nyman said. “I got to be on the podium with him. To have him be on the podium in his final season, that’s something that’s pretty special. The guy still has it, he’s ending his career on top. The guy’s an amazing skier, super nice guy. He’s always tried pushing for skiers’ right I think. He’s talked to me in the brief time I’ve known him about the progress, what we can do to help us. I think he’s a great person in the ski industry. It was cool for him to end like that — hopefully I can end like that.
    “He’s [doesn’t act] like a superstar, he’s a humble guy. He’s smart, he’s quiet, he’s not brash and out there, which is something I really respect. I really like who he is as a person. There are certain guys out there who are maybe amazing, incredible skiers but are idiots. He’s not one of them. A good guy.”
    Born in Lienz, Austria, Strobl skied for Ski Club Steinfeld and made his World Cup debut in December 1992 at Val Gardena. Strobl won a silver medal at the 2007 Are World Championships and also won the Kitzbühel downhill in 1997 and 2000.
    Now what? Coach? Commentator? Comedian?
    “I don’t know. I have some solutions, but I don’t know yet,” Strobl said. “I need a little time for me and for my family. I’m a policeman in regular life, so maybe I’ll go back to the police. I have a farm where I have to do something. I will check out some things and see where I’m good and then I will decide what I am going to do.”

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About the Author: Pete Rugh