After his successes last winter, double Olympic champion Johannes Strolz also wants to go for gold at the Ski World Championships in Courchevel and Meribel in France next February.
There is still “a lot to do” for this, but he has already shown that “he can win big titles,” said Strolz at a press conference in Innsbruck on Tuesday.
But before that, the Vorarlberger would like to bake much smaller rolls and approach his ambitious World Cup goal step by step. “First comes the slalom qualification,” he says modestly.
This discipline is also his focus for the coming season. “Only in the course of the season, depending on the points, will there possibly be giant slalom,” says Strolz.
Strolz feels “positive pressure”
The preparations for the season have gone well so far, according to Strolz. “In Chile we had top conditions and were therefore able to train well,” he emphasizes. In addition to slalom, he was also able to tackle giant slalom and super-G: “It’s good that you position yourself broadly.”
Before the training camp in Chile, however, it was time to think, reflect and train a little. “It was important for me to recharge my batteries,” says the ski climber, whose career was about to end in 2021. With the successes in China, his life has now changed fundamentally. “But the pressure of expectations that I feel as a result is positive,” he says.
But it is still important for him to “listen to your own instinct” and simply “show your best skiing”.
New opportunities for Strolz – Skis are no longer prepared themselves
Photo: © GEPA
The possibilities and framework conditions in this regard are of course different at the moment than in the past season, says the teammate who was still without a squad at the time. “Many doors are now open and there is also a new main sponsor,” explains Strolz.
In addition, he no longer just looks after his skis himself and things are going well with ÖSV head coach Marko Pfeifer. “We’re in the process of finding a good rhythm and adjusting to each other,” said Strolz.
There is still enough to do one way or the other. “I want to work on my skiing technique and material in the next few weeks,” says Strolz. He also wanted to set a “conditional focus”.
Strolz is not afraid of any failure or falling short of his own expectations or those of others: “I am convinced that I and those around me will be satisfied with the results.”
Source: Laola1
