Heinz Peter Platter to lead Swedish men’s team

Italian Heinz Peter Platter has signed a four-year contract to lead the Swedish men’s World Cup team through the 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Are. Platter will assume his new role as of July 1, replacing Tomas Karlsson who chose to terminate his contract early.

The 48-year-old Platter is a resident of Mals Bolzano, where he lives with his Swedish wife and two sons. He has devoted most of his life to alpine ski racing, both as a competitor on the Italian national team from 1984-1994, and after that as a coach for the Swedish national team (working with Pernilla Wiberg, Ylva Nowén, Anna Ottosson and Anja Paerson) and with the Italian and Canadian national teams.

“I’m very motivated for this job,” said Platter. “I want to share my experiences and help build up from below and get a strong team to the home World Championships in Åre 2019.”

For the past five years, Platter has worked as a sales manager for Leitner Ropeways that produces lift systems, work that has given him invaluable contacts in Europe.

“I want to use my contacts to organize optimal training conditions with high quality without stress, to get the peace and quiet of the team,” continued Platter.

Even during his time away from the sport, Platter remained active in ski racing by serving as a FIS technical delegate at competitions in Kitzbuehel and St. Moritz.

“We have very good slalom men … but Sweden needs to become better and stronger in the giant slalom and speed segments. Sweden is a small ski nation and if we stick together and utilize the energy right, we can beat anyone,” said Platter.

“We are very pleased with this hiring,” said alpine director Anders Sundqvist. “Heinz Peter has a fantastic network of contacts in Europe when it comes to facilities and training opportunities for our team, and we believe that Heinz Peter will be able to raise the men up another notch in their development. It will be exciting to see the coming season, hopefully with many podiums.”

Release courtesy of SSA