Emma Aicher and Kira Weidle-Winkelmann are competing fiercely in the World Championship, relying on ski technician Markus Voppichler’s expertise. Success in ski racing hinges on precision equipment choices, as athletes often reflect on their gear post-race. Voppichler dedicates long hours to preparing skis, analyzing course conditions, and making real-time adjustments. His collaboration with a test team enhances performance, while the athletes’ insights guide ski selections. As they gear up for the downhill event, the support team eagerly awaits another potential victory.
Precision and Passion: Behind the Scenes of Ski Racing
Emma Aicher and Kira Weidle-Winkelmann are locked in a fierce battle for every hundredth of a second on the World Championship track, thanks in large part to the expertise of ski technician Markus Voppichler.
In the world of competitive skiing, mere fractions of a second can mean the difference between glory and disappointment. When the finish line doesn’t light up green, athletes often turn their attention to their equipment in hopes of uncovering those elusive hundredths. Common post-race comments include, “I had no grip,” “The setup wasn’t right,” or “I can’t handle the new configuration.”
These remarks highlight the crucial relationship between equipment and athlete performance, particularly for Emma Aicher during the Ski World Championship in Saalbach-Hinterglemm.
The Unsung Heroes of the Ski Cellar
In the ski cellar, success is meticulously crafted. Aicher, a promising talent, made a significant mark by securing sixth place in the World Championship Super-G and demonstrating her prowess during training runs. However, the dedicated individuals behind her success often work behind the scenes, unseen by the public, despite their tireless efforts to ensure their athletes’ triumphs.
Markus Voppichler, now in his 14th season with the DSV, oversees the ski preparations for both Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Emma Aicher. During the World Championship, he dedicates up to seven hours a day in the ski cellar, meticulously waxing and sharpening multiple pairs of skis for the elite German speed team. To achieve the perfect setup, he also joins the athletes on the track each morning.
Fine-tuning begins at dawn, as Voppichler loads the car with various ski models and heads to training sessions. “I also participate in the inspection, analyzing crucial sections of the course and observing how conditions evolve—whether the surface is icy or aggressive,” Voppichler explains.
As conditions fluctuate, adjustments are made right on the slope. Depending on the day’s requirements, Voppichler may alter the sharpness of the skis or create a finer edge using a “diamond” tool. At the World Championship, the entire team faces unique challenges; there is no downhill training scheduled for the race’s official start time on Saturday. “On a sunny slope like Saalbach, the conditions can shift dramatically in the upper sections. Our test team adapts quickly to these changes,” he adds.
The test team, composed of former athletes, collaborates with chief technicians to evaluate different wax types about forty kilometers away. Racing down the mountain in bright sunlight, they determine which wax will give Weidle-Winkelmann and Aicher the best chance for speed on race day. This collaboration is invaluable for Voppichler as he prepares the right wax in the cellar.
In the afternoons, the athletes come in for a “short coffee chat,” where they decide which skis to use for the following day. With 14 years of experience, Voppichler has a knack for making the right calls. Weidle-Winkelmann reflects on a recent training session, revealing, “I was convinced the other ski was the right choice, but my technician suggested we try this one again. He was spot on. He’s quite clever.”
When reminiscing about his favorite moments on the job, Voppichler fondly recalls the 2021 World Championship in Cortina d’Ampezzo: “Winning the silver medal with Kira was an incredible experience, and we celebrated it thoroughly.”
As Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Emma Aicher prepare to compete in the downhill event on Saturday (11:20 AM in the livestream), the entire support team holds its breath, eagerly anticipating another triumphant moment at the World Championship.
Stay updated with the ski alpine calendar, featuring all key dates from Sölden to the World Championship in Saalbach and culminating in the season finale in Sun Valley on your smartphone.
In other news, Luis Vogt experienced a tense moment during the Super-G as the World Championship debutant faced a significant crash. Additionally, the wind in Lake Placid initially disrupted women’s ski jumping, with a restart set to occur during the night in Germany. The latest updates from the luge World Championship and Super-G crowned a world champion, while a European champion was determined in skeleton. Catch all the winter sports highlights from Friday in our video recap.