Defago headlines otherwise young Swiss squad in Soelden

By Published On: October 18th, 2013Comments Off on Defago headlines otherwise young Swiss squad in Soelden

SKI ALPIN - FIS WC Soelden, RTL, HerrenThe Swiss men’s team released the names of its starting athletes set to tackle the giant slalom World Cup season opener in Soelden, Austria on Oct. 27. Head coach Walter Hlebayna, together with his group discipline coaches, determined the squad representing Switzerland  for the first race of the year after favorable conditions on Thursday (Oct. 17) enabled the team to hold several time trial runs. The Swiss team for Soelden includes a seasoned veteran as well as one athlete who makes his World Cup debut at the event.

Didier Defago, who placed fifth in last year’s race in Soelden, headlines the squad that also includes Gino Caviezel, Manuel Pleisch, Thomas Tumler, and Justin Murisier. Elia Zurbriggen, son of Olympic gold medalist and multiple World Cup and world championships winner Pirmin Zurbriggen, will have his fourth World Cup start in Soelden, while Sandro Jenal who trains with the Europa Cup group makes his debut on the World Cup circuit.

Photo: Defago racing in last year’s season opener at Soelden (credit: GEPA/Hans Simonlehner)

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About the Author: C.J. Feehan

Christine J. Feehan is a USSA Level 300 coach who spent more than a decade training athletes at U.S. ski academies - Burke, Sugar Bowl, and Killington - before serving as Editor in Chief at Ski Racing Media through 2017. She worked for the FIS on the World Cup tour for three years and then settled into her current home in Oslo, Norway.