Let’s “Make Party” in Soelden, Austria!
It’s me, Megan. I’m back.
Either you’re happy about that or you’re not. If you are, grab a beverage and continue onward. If you’re not, then stop reading now, because it’s going to get weird.
Strangely, I’ve found myself back on the White Circus tour. After a full Olympic cycle under my belt, I may have even surprised myself with this decision. But alas, I’m here. And by “here” I mean I’m currently in the home of cows, contentment, and (World Cup) chaos: Soelden, Austria.
Nestled in the Oetztal valley in the Tirolean Alps, coming to Soelden is like a little slice of ski town heaven. This first race is always an oddball, though, and athletes use it as a gauge to see whether their summer training on and off the hill paid off, and where each other is stacking up. It’s a bit of an anomaly in that way.
Have you ever wondered what’s going on inside the mind of a rookie U.S. Ski Team athlete going into the World Cup kickoff? Join me, while I enlighten you. Well, actually, join me while River Radamus and Luke Winters enlighten you.
Radamus and Winters are both World Junior Championship medalists. Image Credit: Ryan Cochran-Siegle
It’s Q&A With A Rookie Time!
Megan: This is your first time skiing at Soelden, the World Cup kickoff – what’s different about this race, and what are you looking forward to most?
River: The energy is definitely different in Soelden. It’s a cliché, but you can feel the excitement in the air. All the best in the world have been training in private all summer, and this is the first race to compare the fruits of our labor. It doesn’t matter if you’re Ted Ligety or Marcel Hirscher. You show up here and you have to prove you want it all over again.
Luke: There is obviously a lot of excitement leading up to the race knowing that I have been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time. Not only is this my first World Cup to push out of the start gate, this is also my first World Cup I have been to. This is a big step in my career, and I am excited to make it a reality. At the same time, I have been racing my whole life and this is just another step on my way up.
Megan: Your teammate, Ted Ligety, has more wins at this venue than anyone else. What is it like to train with Ted, who has been such a game changer in the sport, and what have you learned from him?
River: Ted is a consummate professional. He’s won, what, 20 something World Cups? But he still goes out every day and works like he’s never won a thing. He leads by example, and we try to learn as much as possible from him so we might be able to be in his position one day.
Luke: Not many people get to train with someone who has the knowledge and experience that Ted does. He brings focus and intensity to every training session but is also approachable and helpful with any questions us younger guys have. I am excited to see what he and the rest of the team can do on Sunday.
Megan: With little snow on the glaciers and warmer weather, you’ve had challenging training conditions coming into Soelden. Were you still able to have productive camps, and do you feel ready for the season to start?
River: Training definitely hasn’t been perfect, but I feel really good about where we are heading into the season. We had great camps in New Zealand, Chile, and France this summer. We worked as hard as anyone in the gym. And, we’ve had as many quality training days as anyone in the eminent prep period. We’re firing on all cylinders and ready to take on the season.
Luke: Although we have had challenging conditions in Soelden leading up to the race, there have been many days of exceptional training. With productive camps in France, New Zealand, Chile, and now Europe, we have had a lot of time on snow and now just dialing in last minute changes to equipment and feel prepared for the season to start.
Megan: You will be skiing quite a few World Cups this season, which will be a new schedule for you. What is it like to be with the World Cup group, and how is the team vibe?
River: It’s been awesome training up with the World Cup guys. I think the best part is probably that they have so much knowledge and experience to pass down because they’re so old. Haha. Seriously though, a lot of these guys were idols of mine when I was a kid. I’ve got posters of them on my walls. Getting to train alongside them, and getting to know them, I’ve come to learn that they are better even than my idolized versions of them. It’s just an awesome group of guys who only want each other to succeed, and hold each other accountable to what we think we’re capable of.
Luke: The World Cup team has been a lot of fun to travel with this pre-season. They bring intensity and fun to everything they do and it has been great to be a part of that. It is hard to have more fun than “The Shiver” but we are trying.
Megan: Finally, you’re the next generation of the U.S. Ski Team, and your faces are still fresh on the World Cup stage. Tell me one thing about yourself that they may not know. It can be anything – just want to give the audience more of a feel for who you are as a person beyond the mountain.
River: When I’m nots skiing, I love to surf. But I’m not not skiing too often these days, haha.
Luke: Born and raised in Oregon with a twin brother, two sisters, and two awesome parents. My parents had never been out of the country or east of Colorado until last year with not much of a skiing background. Thankful my dad got my brother and I in to this crazy sport and excited to see where it takes me.
How cool was that?! Super stoked to be seeing these two World Junior Championship medalists on the big stage more this season!
And now, ready for some “who to watch” action?! Let’s do it.
Vagablonde’s Top Five– Who to Watch:
Below are my top 5 for the weekend…for the race, that is. Yes, they are intentionally in this order. Why? I’ll give you a few thoughts. Firstly, Alexis Pinturault won the last men’s race in Soelden in 2016. “So what?!” you say. Well, he has a new serviceman and he’s one of the best in the biz, Bode Miller and Andrew Weibrecht’s former ski man, Guntram Mathis, aka “Chunti”. Coincidentally, he’s one of my favorite people. Sure, Marcel Hirscher is tough to beat, but he did just have a baby… so I’m betting he’ll have a bit of “dad brain.” Could be wrong.
Speaking of fatherhood, Ted Ligety is my pick for a podium here. He’s won more than anyone else on this track – four times – and he’s in good form. He knows how to nail the flats and lay it over on the pitch. Henrik Kristoffersen is fast, but Soelden hasn’t historically been his hill. He has been skiing fast in training in Soelden’s “Ice Box” so I’ll give him that. But remember – that’s just a 28 second course.
For the women, Mikaela Shiffrin has my vote. She’s cool, calm, composed, and confident. I’ve actually never seen her this “light.” If you have interacted with her lately, you know what I’m talking about. She is bringing the intensity to the mountain every day, but not only is she physically strong, she is also more mentally strong than ever. Viktoria Rebensburg and Tessa Worley are clear favorites for the podium, but word on the mountain is that Anna Veith – formerly Fenninger – has been skiing fast giant slalom in training. And, I’ve got a sweet spot in my heart for Ragnhild Mowinckel, aka “RagMo”.
Men:
- Alexis Pinturault (FRA)
- Marcel Hirscher (AUT)
- Ted Ligety (USA)
- Henrik Kristofferson (NOR)
- Manuel Feller (AUT)
Women
- Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)
- Tessa Worley (FRA)
- Viktoria Rebensburg (GER)
- Anna Veith (AUT)
- Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR)
Just the Tips:
I hate to disappoint you all, but I left my blades at home this year because I don’t have my PC Bladies partner-in-crime, Claire Abbe Brown, with me to blade through the fan parade this year and join me on stage as co-hype gals to properly kick off the World Cup festivities. It’s a shame. However, if you’re looking to “make party” – as the Austrians so eloquently say (I shouldn’t make fun…I don’t know a second language) – then I’ve got some tips for you. First, let’s start with the family adventure activities.
EXPLORE NATURE.
About 30 minutes away from Soelden there’s a beautiful waterfall. Actually, it’s Tirol’s biggest waterfall, and it’s located in Umhausen and called “Stuibenfall”fed by the Alpine Horlachbach brook. It’s great for nordic walking (if you’re into that kind of thing…which most Austrians are), hiking, and – at the very least – it is scattered with signage that will make you giggle a little bit, about how nature is good for your soul. By the way, yes there is a difference between nordic walking and hiking. Just ask Lindsey Vonn, Benni Raich and Marlies Schild – they’re experts.
Get outside! It’s good for you. Just ask these U.S. Ski Team besties. Image Credit: Ryan Cochran-Siegle
NO TIME LIKE APRES SKI TIME.
All I have to say is, if you’re in Soelden as a spectator, you have to hang out up on the mountain to “make party” like the Austrians do… belligerently drunk and messy (and I mean that in the best – mostly – way possible). With a DJ dropping the bass-line and cheerleaders on stage to get the vibe – or “wibe” if you’re a local – established, you’d be foolish not to hang out at the base of the mountain and make new friends. Grab a Red Bull – Austria’s national beverage – and get settled in for a good time. If you have kids, make sure to cover their eyes when the fans start to get crazy, stripping layers of clothing on stage. It’s wild. Because, my friends, THAT is ski racing in Austria.
IF you’re more on the chill side, head to the bar in the Regina Hotel Superior for a schnapps. The bartender, Heidi, will take good care of you, and will recommend the orange-colored schnapps. Tell her I sent you, she’s a legend.
Have fun and be safe! See you next time I write one of these… if you’re still up for joining me for the journey!
About the Author: Megan Harrod
