7 questions with Liechtenstein’s Tina Weirather

By Published On: May 28th, 2016Comments Off on 7 questions with Liechtenstein’s Tina Weirather

Liechtenstein’s Tina Weirather has established herself among the world’s best alpine skiers with 26 World Cup podiums in three disciplines. The FIS talked with her about her injuries, the pressure of her family’s legacy and goals for next season.

1. First of all, congratulations on your great season! Earning fourth in the overall rankings with a personal record of 1,016 points and two World Cup wins, it looks like the struggles you had in 2014-15 are definitively over. What changed compared to last season? Are you satisfied with your results?
I’m very happy with my season, especially with the second place in the overall super-G standings and also with my giant slalom performance. In downhill, I was a little disappointed because I feel like I was never able to really show my best. I had a new coach and I knew it would take a little time for the changes we made to work out in all three disciplines, but all in all, it already worked very well.

2. What was your personal highlight this season? Is there a win or a performance you’re particularly proud of?
Both my victories were amazing. I’m really proud of how I was able to react after the worst race of my career and win the next day in La Thuile. In St. Moritz, I took a lot of risks and was able to show some of my best skiing. Also, it was always my dream to be on the podium in Soelden, so that was a really exciting start into the season.

3. Unfortunately, your biography doesn’t include only racing highlights, but also a lot of injuries – multiple ACL tears and a shin injury –  and they always occurred when you were at the top of your game. How did you get through them? What did you learn from these setbacks?
Well, getting along with those things is really tough, but I always tried to stay positive and keep fighting. Also, I always try to analyze myself and be bloody honest with myself. I think that it is very important to actually learn from setbacks. Struggle is part of the game, so I think it’s important how you handle the struggle, if you get negative and think about giving up, or if you analyze what’s wrong and work on getting better. It’s not the success that you should love, but the process of getting there.

4. It’s also hard to talk about your biography without mentioning your family background. Together, your parents Hanni Wenzel and Harti Weirather have two Olympic titles, five World Champion titles, eight World Cup globes and 39 World Cup wins. This must result in a lot of expectations, both from the outside and from yourself as an ambitious person. How do you handle this? Is it more of a motivation and an advantage, or is it only pressure?
Actually, I don’t know anything different. I grew up like that, so it doesn’t mean pressure or advantage for me. Sometimes I feel like people think that I somehow have to be really good because of my parents, but sadly, I still have to work really hard as well.

5. Since 2011, you’ve been fully integrated in the Swiss ski team with overall winner Lara Gut, downhill runner-up Fabienne Suter and alpine combined winner Wendy Holdener. If we add the World Cup points you earned, the Swiss ski team would have won the Nations Cup. Can we talk about a great team performance? Or is it more individual athletes training under the same banner? What’s the spirit within the team?
That is huge. I wish my points would be included and we would have won the Nations Cup. The team is great. Not only the athletes are doing a good job, but also the coaches and everyone involved. I am very happy to be part of the Swiss team. The team spirit is positive, so we can all get better together.

6. Is summertime a period to enjoy? Or do you miss snow training and traveling?
I usually love to travel and be on the tour, but this year is the first year I am also really enjoying being home for a while. I miss skiing already, but not like the years before when I couldn’t think of anything else than “I want to go skiing.” I’m very lucky to have the Rotor Team at home, which is a training facility for athletes. It’s getting more and more professional every year, and it’s way more fun to train together every day instead of grinding alone.

7. What about your goals for next season? Where will the main focus be? More on the World Championships in St. Moritz or are you aiming at your first career globe?
My goals for next season are definitely the World Champs in St. Moritz, but also the World Cup. I want to be as well prepared as I can be for next season. There is this main goal in the back of my head: to win a medal and to win a globe one day, but I’m focussing on the next day and the next week only, step by step.

Release courtesy of FIS

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