Windy conditions disrupt the warm-up for the Lauberhorn downhill event, forcing Swiss men’s ski team head coach Thomas Stauffer to cancel plans. With gusts reaching 100 km/h, the chairlift remains closed as teams manage snowdrifts and await updates on race timing. Stauffer navigates organizational tasks, prepares athletes, and coordinates logistics for a backup plan at a nearby lounge. Despite challenges, the team remains focused, ultimately achieving success later in the day with strong performances from their racers.
Chairlift Challenges and Windy Conditions
As the chairlift ascends, three out of four passengers instinctively press down their yellow hoods to shield themselves from the fierce winds. The fourth, Thomas Stauffer, head coach of the Swiss men’s ski team, is busy typing a message on his phone: “Warm-up cancelled. Wind gusts still strong!!!” This crucial communication is made moments before the scheduled warm-up for the Lauberhorn downhill event on Saturday.
At that moment, the chairlift hovers above the very slope designated for the racers’ warm-up. With wind speeds reaching approximately 100 kilometers per hour, the Wixi chairlift is set to be shut down once officials from the FIS and coaches arrive for their jury inspection at the summit. Unfortunately, this means no warm-up for the athletes.
Along the racecourse’s red safety nets, snowdrifts have accumulated, and teams from the military and civil protection are busy shoveling away the soft snow. The clock reads 8:30 AM, and the downhill race is set to commence in just four hours.
Unexpected Weather Disruptions
The Guggiföhn wind is a familiar adversary at the Lauberhorn race, but its unexpected appearance this Saturday caught everyone off guard—especially since no one anticipated it the night before. Everything seemed perfect: ideal weather and a well-prepared slope. Yet, complications arose when the Wengernalpbahn was unable to operate early due to the wind, halting the transportation of spectators.
By 9 AM, coaches and FIS officials convene in the finish area post-jury inspection. Below, there are no signs of the föhn storm, just a light breeze. FIS race director Markus Waldner gathers the men to discuss the current situation, but no decisions have been made regarding the race’s timing or height.
During the jury inspection, each nation is represented by three coaches: the head coach, the discipline coach, and another who measures snow temperatures at several points, sharing updates in the ski service personnel’s WhatsApp group. Stauffer evaluates the snow conditions and inspects the safety nets, ensuring everything is secure after a previous day’s fall. On this day, wind has dried out the snow, making it more aggressive and coarse.
As they wait, Stauffer tackles organizational tasks. After a chairlift ride, he finds a moment to enjoy a café crème at the Allmend mountain restaurant while scrolling through world and European cup rankings on the FIS app. He pulls out an A4 sheet from his jacket and begins jotting down names and numbers meticulously. Waiting is a routine part of race day, and during this downtime, he also prepares the lineup for the upcoming races in Kitzbühel.
Having served as head coach of the Swiss men’s team for nearly eleven years, Stauffer reflects on the team’s past struggles, recalling, “That wasn’t very fun,” when they ranked seventh. Hailing from Unterlangenegg in Bern, he has transformed the team’s dynamics, fostering a cohesive coaching approach that emphasizes consistency across all aspects of training, from skiing technique to athletic preparation.
His efforts in nurturing young talent have garnered significant praise. Constant communication with various coaches ensures that athletes train and compete in appropriate environments. Stauffer is currently on the phone, deliberating on whether to send a B-team athlete to a race in North America, emphasizing the importance of tailoring the right path for each athlete: “You just have to do it better than the others.”
As the racers’ inspection time approaches, Stauffer skis a short distance along a forest path before descending through the woods to reach the racecourse entrance. It is now 10 AM, and the racers should be inspecting the slope; however, no updates have come from the FIS. The international athletes are temporarily relocated to the team hospitality area beneath the Wixi chairlift, which Stauffer deems a mistake since the lift is still inactive due to wind.
Fortunately, the Swiss team has a backup plan. Swiss Ski has secured a lounge at Kleine Scheidegg, where the athletes can enjoy music, television, and delicious refreshments, including coffee, nut croissants, and bratwurst. Notably, Marco Odermatt and Justin Murisier take advantage of the hearty bratwurst meal before the Lauberhorn downhill event.
Stauffer uses his radio to communicate with fellow Swiss coaches and calls the helicopter base to coordinate transportation: “We are delayed; how long can you fly?” The plan is to have the Swiss team airlifted back up after the inspection to avoid the chaos unfolding below. However, their flight is restricted due to a no-fly period during the Patrouille Suisse show.
Finally, a WhatsApp notification arrives: the inspection is scheduled from 10:30 to 11 AM, which is shorter than usual. This timeframe allows for helicopter flights, but not for interviews at the finish area. Stauffer promptly informs the media officer from Swiss Ski before taking his position at the finish line, remaining calm amid the bustling race preparations.
The Lauberhorn features the longest downhill course in the World Cup, stretching nearly 4.5 kilometers. Consequently, the inspection process is thorough, with a Swiss coach stationed at eleven points along the course, which also includes Finnish and Liechtenstein coaches due to their athletes’ integration into the Swiss Ski system. Before the first training session, downhill chief Reto Nydegger designates positions for each coach, followed by a detailed inspection where he outlines the optimal racing line.
Having completed two training runs, racers discuss the ideal setup for the current snow conditions during the inspection. Stauffer engages with the athletes, inquiring about their strategies for the finish line and providing insights into the feasibility of their plans given the day’s conditions. On this particular Saturday, he notes a compression that some racers had approached too aggressively during training, and he reminds them to consider the coarser snow further out.
A brief phone call to Nydegger up the slope reveals updates on Franjo von Allmen, the previous day’s Super-G winner. “Too good, too relaxed,” Nydegger remarks, stressing the importance of maintaining a balanced mindset for both von Allmen and Odermatt, who did not achieve his desired results in the Super-G. The advice is well-received, as two hours later, Odermatt secures a victory, with von Allmen taking second place.
After the inspection, Stauffer returns to the Allmend café, continuing to manage organizational tasks. He reaches out to slalom skier Luca Aerni to confirm the smooth transfer from Valais to Wengen and reviews a table of upcoming events.