Manuel Feller’s struggle with “World Championship aftermath”

Manuel Feller 2023 World Championship SL Photo: GEPA pictures/ Mario Buehner

The fall, the lead after the first run, and the missed medal left Manuel Feller scarred and struggling to cope with the 2023 World Championships. Now, the 31-year-old Tyrolean is prepared for winter 2023/24.

On February 19, the 2023 Courchevel/Méribel Alpine Ski World Championships concluded with the men’s slalom. That race day deeply affected Austrian skier Manuel Feller. The trauma lingered in his mind well into the summer. It wasn’t a positive experience. Feller revealed during the summer that he was traumatized by the events of the past winter, causing him to lose some joy in skiing due to his negative experiences. During the Atomic Media Day on Thursday (October 12th), the 31-year-old Tyrolean again emphasized the impact of the final races of winter 2022/23.

“The last month and a half of the 22/23 season tested me. After the fall at the World Championships, my last races were unpleasant. Remembering how to have fun skiing again became crucial. I needed to erase those bad memories and start the new season with joy,” Feller explained during the final slalom of the 2023 World Cup season. However, while preparing for the World Championship slalom, Feller fell again, injuring his back. He suffered edema in the sacroiliac joint, impacting nerve pathways to his right thigh. This led to permanent pain and impaired sensation in his body.

Despite the Chamonix disappointment in his last race before the World Championships, Feller dominated the first run of SL in Courchevel and led by (-0.13). Leading after the run, he was a strong contender for a medal. However, fate delivered a different outcome. In the second run, Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen excelled, moving from 16th to secure victory, while Feller finished the second run 21st fastest, dropping to 7th overall. However, he narrowly missed the bronze by just (+0.29) seconds. Also, the silver medalist Greek skier AJ Ginnis finished a mere (-0.47) ahead of Feller.

Additionally, he trailed gold medalist Kristoffersen by only (+0.67). Post-World Championships, Feller struggled in the World Cup, unable to produce any more top-10 finishes. Knowing that an athlete’s mental strength determines 80% of ski racing success, Feller intensified his mental training.

“New winter, new happiness,” said Feller, discussing his feelings before the season opener in Sölden. With his 31st birthday approaching in Altenmarkt and summer temperatures prevailing, the winter feeling hadn’t yet set in two weeks before the season’s start. Feller noted, “In a week, with a predicted temperature drop, when the mountains get sugary, that’s when the feeling comes.”

The moderator at Atomic Media Day asked Feller, as the fifth-ranked 22/23 World Cup Slalom skier behind two Norwegians and two Swiss, if he aimed to win the 2024 discipline globe. Feller replied, “In slalom, the competition is so strong that you can’t set the globe as your primary goal. The goal is for me to compete for podium places in every race. To win the crystal globe, many things must come together.”