ÖSV star Feller before the start of the World Cup: “Success is addictive”

One can Manuel Feller recently sliding down the hump. If you want, you can trample on it as you wish.

It won’t hurt Feller anymore, it’s actually a great honor for the best slalom runner of the moment when so many people get so close to him.

For the Victory in the Slalom World Cup Last winter, the 32-year-old Tyrolean not only received the obligatory small crystal ball and a lot of attention, but also one or two unusual presents.

This was the case in his home community of Fieberbrunn a ski slope and a running track named after the honorary citizen.

These are the pleasant sides of fame, and even if the Tyrolean veteran knows how to put himself in the limelight, Manuel Feller is still the same no one who needs this fuss about himself and savored.

The father of two prefers to be left alone and values ​​privacy. Before the World Cup opener on Sunday in Sölden The 32-year-old consciously took a break from skiing and allowed himself a few days off to go fishing with his family.

Stress factor

The coming winter will be stressful enough as it is. Especially for a runner like Feller a great responsibility for the spiritual well-being of the ski nation carries. There aren’t currently that many athletes in the ÖSV men’s team who have ever seen a victory podium from the top.

Apart from Manuel Feller (6 World Cup victories), only Vincent Kriechmayr (18), the convalescent Marco Schwarz (6) and Max Franz (3) as well as Michael Matt, Johannes Strolz and Christian Hirschbühl (1 each) can boast successes in the World Cup. Makes a total of 36 wins.

For comparison: The Swiss superstar Marco Odermatt won one more race than the entire Austrian men’s team.

Love-hate relationship

Austrian ski fans should keep this balance in mind before they raise their expectations too high in the home World Cup season and hope for miracles. “I don’t care what others expect of me anyway”emphasizes Manuel Feller.

He really got a taste for it last winter and really enjoyed his four victories this season. “Success is addictive. I want to have that feeling again and experience moments like that again.”

It remains to be seen whether the start of the season is the right time and whether Sölden is the ideal place.

In the past, Manuel Feller has wondered about the home World Cup on the Rettenbachferner, he even talks about one “little love-hate relationship”because he has never made it into the top ten in giant slalom there. “Sölden usually comes a little too early for me. I need a little warm-up phase in the giant slalom.”

In contrast to the international ski fans, who are apparently already in full winter mode. There could be one on the Rettenbachferner this weekend new visitor record By Wednesday, 30 percent more tickets had been sold than a year ago.

Ski-Samba

The comebacks of Lucas Pinheiro Braathen and Marcel Hirscher in the Dutch racing suit – if he actually drives – move the crowds. The giant slalom will also be broadcast in distant South America thanks to neo-Brazilian Braathen; the ÖSV has concluded a TV deal with Brazil for the entire season.