How to train versatile skiers like Michelle Gisin and Wendy Holdener in Switzerland

Michelle Gisin. (Photo: Gian Ehrenzeller / Epa)

In fact, it starts with bad discipline. Wendy Holdener and Michelle Gisin have established themselves in the leading group of the World Cup in the past two winters, winning medals at the World Cup and Winter Games. But the giant slalom was in the best case, it was not enough for a flowerpot.

But with bad discipline, Gisin would not leave it that way. She has virtually no results in the giant slalom, but calls her favorite discipline. And then, she begins to marvel at how she worked tirelessly on the technique with coach Denis Wicki during the summer. For hours, they would have discussed the perfect moment. And now, she feels extremely good and wants to attack Saturday on the Sölden Glacier.

The goal is the podium

Wendy Holdener is not as euphoric as her teammate. She seems to be listening when she says that the good feeling she had had during the summer had been a little lost. But nevertheless, it continued with her. Last winter, she was so stable that she can now go to Sölden in the leading group of the top 7. And if everything goes as she imagines, she will also be on the giant slalom podium this winter. She has already done it in slalom, combination and super-G.

Like Gisin, Holdener is winning a high level in technical and fast disciplines. In the meantime, this has become unthinkable for men, the specialization is too advanced. Versatility is still possible for women, as evidenced by Mikaela Shiffrin, the world's best skier, and behind her there are about half a dozen other female athletes, also world clbad in at least three disciplines , including Lara Gut. Beat Chuor, the new head coach of the Swiss, justifies this situation by a point less dense than that of men.

For Chuors' tasks, it is necessary to create conditions for his multi-purpose riders to train on several tracks. With Lara Gut, he can delegate this: for the training that their father Pauli is responsible for, Chuor only needs to look that both are well integrated into the team in the winter. Good guard covered before the first race. The giant slalom swing is still a construction site, she says. Last year, she slipped into the world rankings, but she has already won giant slaloms, including two at Sölden.

It is a bit more complicated to meet the individual needs of Holdener and Gisin. Both train in the same group of technicians and always want to follow their own path. This is guaranteed with a large team of coaches. The group consists of five athletes, they are coached by five coaches. As Simone Wild and Melanie Meillard have been injured in recent months, the remaining three riders have almost benefited from an overabundance of caregivers. This allowed Gisin to invest a lot of time with Denis Wicki in the technology. In addition, she can call on Dominique Pittet for the training of speed disciplines. And then there's sister and Olympic downhill champion, Dominique Gisin, who plays the role of mentor.

Holdener also has a central contact person in the team. She works closely with Werner Zurbuchen. She enjoys playing sports off the bat now and again, but has not done so much this summer. At one time or another, she formed a different discipline on the same slope as the others, she says. "I've never been really alone on the way."

Continuity required

The head coach Chuor, it is important that individual training is possible. "But I said to everyone: there can be no dependence." There may still be changes in the training staff, but that should not be why an athlete falls into a hole. The fact that only one conditioning coach was replaced last spring in the Holdener and Gisin group was in line with the desire of the riders. "When the new coach arrived, we clearly stated," We want continuity, "said Holdener.

Gisin, Gut and Holdener seem to offer the best conditions for good results in various disciplines. This should not obscure the fact that the Swiss have not been able to form a strong group for years, especially in the giant slalom. The problem is recognized, says Chuor, and various measures have been taken. But sometimes, in such a situation, it is also necessary to show restraint. In summer, the question arose as to whether additional technicians from the European Cup team should be sent abroad. Chuor gave up because they're still too far from Holdener and Gisin and would probably have been overwhelmed.