Corinne Suter: Photo Peter Gerber Plech
A familiar face returning as her new coach, a teammate more than ten years younger joining her training group, and an Olympic season on the horizon — fourteen years after her first World Cup start, Corinne Suter is once again heading into an exciting winter.
The 31-year-old from Schwyz has long been one of the steady forces in Switzerland’s women’s team. Together with Jasmine Flury (32), Lara Gut-Behrami (34), Priska Ming-Nufer (33), Michelle Gisin (31), and Joana Hählen (33), she forms the experienced core of the Swiss speed squad.
During a media event in Stettbach last week, the 2022 Olympic downhill champion answered journalists’ questions about her offseason, the coaching change from Roland Platzer to Stefan Abplanalp, and the collaboration with younger teammates such as Malorie Blanc. Naturally, the relaxed and cheerful Suter was also asked about the season’s biggest highlight — the Olympic Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
New Coach, New Energy
Q: Corinne, how has your preparation for the Olympic season gone so far?
Suter: “Our entire staff changed. It’s quite something to work with a new coach — Stefan Abplanalp instead of Roland Platzer. Even our conditioning program looks different now. Still, I could organize my plan more or less the way I wanted.
The training camp in Chile was amazing — really, it was mega cool — and I’m super excited for the new season.”
Working With Stefan Abplanalp
Q: How has the collaboration been with your new coach? Last season Stefan Abplanalp was an SRF TV expert, and now he’s back in a coaching role.
Suter: “It’s working really well. Of course, any big change like that takes time before you really know each other. The funny part is that Stefan was already a Swiss-Ski coach back in 2011, the year I did my first World Cup races — my debut was the Aspen giant slalom on November 26.
Communication with him is great. He brings up topics that might otherwise be brushed aside. I’m the type who, when things don’t go well, tends to walk past the coach without saying much. But Stefan approaches me. He gives me space to talk but doesn’t pressure me. He makes the first move, and that’s something that doesn’t come naturally to me. It’s good for me.”
Training Days in Chile
Q: Tell us a bit about your training block in Chile.
Suter: “It was my first time in Valle Nevado, and the conditions were fantastic — the weather couldn’t have been better. The first week was really great.
Of course, the accident involving Matteo Franzoso was a heavy moment, a real shock. Even so, we continued training because the alternate area didn’t have enough snow, so we moved to La Parva. Even on another piste, I had an uneasy feeling.
We talked about the accident within the team and gave ourselves time to process it properly. That helped. It was important.”
Cortina 2026 Coming Into View
Q: As the Olympic downhill champion from 2022, how much are the upcoming Games already on your mind?
Suter: “Honestly, they only became a topic for me during this media week. Before that, I barely thought about them. Because the speed season starts late, we still have plenty of time to prepare.
Maybe that’s why the Olympics don’t feel as close as the first World Cup races, which matter more to me right now.
At my first Games in PyeongChang, I was inexperienced and nervous. Now I’m much calmer and more relaxed. I really hope I can enjoy the next Olympics. I love Cortina — it’s one of my favorite places.
These will be my first Games in Europe, which will be the total opposite of China 2022. Back then, the quiet atmosphere actually suited me. In Italy, the energy will be huge — I’m curious how intense it will get. But I know what’s coming with the Tofana Schuss and the other key parts of the course. Still, a little tension is always there — and that’s part of it.”
Confidence Restored
Q: A year ago you started the season with many question marks. How different does it feel now?
Suter: “Completely different. Whenever you come back from an injury, preparation never goes perfectly. That’s when all the doubts come — questions you can’t really answer yourself.
But now I know where I stand. I have benchmarks and comparisons. I understand where I still need to make progress. I’m on a good path, my confidence is back, and training results are solid.”
Supporting the Next Generation
Q: Malorie Blanc recently said she can come to you anytime with questions. Do you feel responsible for helping the younger athletes?
Suter: “It’s nice when we older athletes can pull the younger ones along. Malorie is incredibly eager to learn and very driven to make the next step forward. When I see that kind of attitude, I love helping.
It’s a win-win situation. I can learn from her, too — she brings an easygoing, carefree energy. And she can benefit from my experience when it comes to things like course inspection, line choice, or analysis. For her age, Malorie is very mature.”
Still Driven by Joy
Q: After so many years in elite sport, what motivates you to go through another long preparation and a full racing winter?
Suter: “It’s simply the joy of it. Skiing is still one of the most beautiful things in the world for me. Few experiences give me the same feeling of happiness and freedom — like finishing a clean training run in Valle Nevado.
When you feel that, it’s easy to get up at six in the morning and head to the gym without even thinking about it.”
About the Author: Peter Gerber Plech
