Night slalom in Schladming: Again the normal madness

Austria against Germany, a duel between two “insane”, and the two immediately clear it up: second run at the night slalom of Schladming, Manuel Feller from Fieberbrunn against Linus Straßer from Munich. Or just: Rainer Schönfelder against Bernd Schmelzer. This evening will not only be a duel on the Planai ski slope, but a duet in the commentator cabin of the Bavarian Radio. The floodlight shines, the slope is prepared, 30,000 guests in Schladming warm with high -proof flügerln – and the former racing driver Schönfeld crouches in an outfit with red fabric straps and explains: “When two Austrians drive on the podium, then I go with mine Haster carriers to bed. “

Skir races are not necessarily a leisure experience as a spectator experience, in the departure and Super-G the tension sheet sometimes leaves the pants holder as soon as possible. In the giant slalom and slalom, however, sporting drama is usually expected. And so it is in Schladming on Wednesday evening.

Ex-footballer Toni Polster is there, hood chef Johann Lafer, and former world-class racing runner Maria Riesch should not be missing in Schladming either. Compared to the celebrity bid in Kitzbühel from the weekend, it is harmless in Schladming, but everything else is bad: the slopes, the course setting in the second run, and this audience. In the village, the mountains of beer cans pile up in the World Cup days, the youngest guests sometimes support each other on the way to the second round to the stadium, so wild and humid. Anyone who has a World Cup night in Schladming will wake up with a hit earworm, at least.

If you want to escape this madness, the two insane people who have been commenting live for many years are recommended. “Slalom has something to do with dancing,” explains Reiner Schönfelder before the race heads to his climax. Linus Straßer leads after the first run, for the fourth time on the Planai. He then won the race twice, once he threaded at the second goal and retired. And this time?

“If you already have the advantage and then pour in …”, says Linus Straßer – his trainer had put the course

The best ten professionals are still up, Tanguy Nef plunges into the slope, a compatriot of Marco Odermatt, who finished third at the giant slalom the evening before (behind the Norwegian duo Alexander Steen Olsen and Henrik Kristoffersen). NEF is “one of these countless Swiss who literally grow out of the ground like the mushrooms,” explains Schönfelder, before Schmelzer uses the template to attack: “Switzerland is also a bit in front of Austria in the Nations Cup.” The side blow is at the former ski racer, who won Olympic bronze in the slalom in 2006 and won in Kitzbühel in 2002. At that time Austria was a power in skiing, and others have now hurried. “Thank you Bernd,” says Schönfelder, “we cut it out.”

The nice thing about the live TV: nothing and nobody is cut, at most curves, such as Clément Noël, who drives and exits directly through the slalom poles. “He would need a Glander,” explains Schönfelder, a “railing to hold on”, translated Schmelzer. At Schönfelder’s compatriot Fabio Gstrein, the sporty drama is heading. “So Bernd, now I have to give a bissl a ruah, now I have to concentrate,” explains Schönfelder. “Stay patiently Fabio, not theaters”, but Gstreins drive is more reminiscent of a tragicomedy. He is close to departure, does he feel like all the Austrians in front of him? “I can’t stand it anymore,” says Schönfelder. “Everything turns, but not where it should,” analyzes Schmelzer. Grein saves itself with the interim time before the last Austrian Manuel Feller starts.

In Schladming, the whole slope now trembles, on television the viewers learn that Manuel Feller was once Schönfelder’s room comrade. Feller puts an almost perfect journey, Schönfelder is freaking out, Schmelzer tries his calm skills: “Now we open the door for a short time, ventilate and concentrate on the last three.” Why doesn’t this duo comment more often?

Then Straßer is up. The commentators tremble, striker risks everything, fights – and makes decisive mistakes. He will be fourth, two Austrians are on the podium behind Norwegian Timon Haugan. Straßer complains about his own trainer on the BR-Mikro, who had put the course in the second run-and chose a line that was too strong for its taste. “If you already have the advantage and then pour in …” Again the normal madness.