Mario Stecher is once again glad that his career is already behind him. Otherwise he would be sweating a lot. There are certainly more pleasant things to do than squeezing yourself into a tight diving suit in 35 degree plus temperatures when everyone else is walking around in swimming trunks.
Sports director Mario Stecher (right) and managing director Christian Scherer (left) have been managing the ÖSV since the summer
Die Ski jumper are currently competing in the first competitions of the Summer Grand Prixwhich is a midsummer Grand Prix this year. For overall World Cup winner Stefan Kraft and his Adler colleagues, it feels like they are ski jumping in a sauna.
To put it in the words of ÖSV sports director Mario Stecher: “It’s not nice. You sweat endlessly in the jump suit.”
The current generation of ski jumpers Yes, you can still count yourself lucky. Nowadays, athletes can take a lift to the diving platform on every ski jump quickly and comfortably.
“A catastrophe”
In Mario Stecher’s time, the jumpers and Nordic combined athletes usually had to climb the steep jump hill on foot. This feat of strength would clip the wings of most of today’s eagles. “It used to be a real catastrophe,” Mario Stecher remembers. “The suit then picks at the skin. This doesn’t feel good.”
Eyes on Embacher
Austria’s ski jumping team will compete in Courchevel with almost its best line-up. The only missing member of the team that won the Nations Cup last season with a new points record is Daniel Tschofenig, who is recovering from a torn adductor muscle.
Also Stephan Embacher was nominated by ÖSV head coach Andreas Widhölzl for the competitions in Courchevel. The 18-year-old from Brixental in Tyrol is currently considered the greatest ski jumping talent in the world. Although in reality Embacher is no longer considered a talent at all.
Last winter, the young Tyrolean was at his World Cup debut at Bergisel landed in 13th place straight away. Embacher made it into the top 15 three more times in spring 2024 and later won his third and fourth gold medals at the Junior World Championships in Planica.
In any other nation, the teenager would be seeded, but in Austria, World Cup places are extremely coveted, which is why even top-ten jumpers do not have a fixed jersey. “That makes it really difficult for me as a coach. These are often difficult decisions,” says the Austrian success coach Andreas Widhölzl.
Starting place thanks to special regulation
Stephan Embacher does not have to worry about his starting place in the coming season. Thanks to an initiative by ÖSV director Mario Stecher, the 18-year-old will be granted a wildcard. The three nations that have medal-winning jumpers at the Junior World Championships will now receive an additional starting place.
So 18-year-old Stephan Embacher doesn’t have to worry about his starting place.