“After two second places in this year’s World Cup, I’m obviously hoping for a medal and will do my best for it. But for a result like this, everything has to come together, and the power density is now extremely high,” said Dreier. The native of Salzburg took third place at the European Championships in Boi Taüll last year and names the bronze medal she won as one of her “career highlights”.
A total of five World Championship competitions will be held from Tuesday to Sunday in Vall de Boi, which is located on the edge of the Pyrenees: medals will be awarded for men and women in sprint, vertical, team and individual competitions as well as in the mixed relay. From the ÖSV point of view, one also hopes for Johanna Hiemer, who is given outsider chances in the sprint and in the individual competition. Paul Verbnjak (sprint, individual and vertical) and possibly Daniel Zugg (sprint) can also be up front on a good day.
“With a very good feeling in the Pyrenees”
“Last year in Boi Taüll I was able to win silver in the U23 individual and I’m really looking forward to the World Championships,” said Verbnjak. His past few weeks have been quite positive for him, so he flew to the Pyrenees “with a very good feeling”. Zugg is contesting his fifth World Championships: “I’ve always had bad luck at World Championships, but this year I’m in good form.” Hiemer is also “really satisfied” with her performance development.
World Cup program
- Tuesday (8:30 a.m.): Sprint
- Wednesday (9:30 a.m.): Vertical
- Thursday (9:00 a.m.): Team
- Saturday (9am): Singles
- Sunday (8:55 a.m.): Mixed relay
Ski mountaineering will be Olympic in 2026 at the games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The suggestion came from the Italian hosts, but for the time being ski mountaineering only has Olympic status for this one time. 24 men and women each will compete in a sprint and a mixed relay. So three sets of medals will be awarded. Austria will definitely be there, as each nation can be represented by one woman and one man.
Sport is gaining in importance
While in earlier years many athletes competed in all competitions, since it was upgraded to an Olympic sport, there has been a concentration and specialization. Around 20 nations are already taking part in the World Cup.
Austria’s former top cross-country skier Christian Hoffmann is currently in the A squad, but not in the national team. The now 48-year-old ex-world-class cross-country skier, who also has a doping ban behind him, suffered an injury at the beginning of winter that is still hanging over his head.
ÖSV team for Boi Taüll
Women: Sarah Dreier, Johanna Hiemer
Herren: Daniel Ganahl, Christof Hochenwarter, Armin Hoefl, Andreas Mayer, Paul Verbnjak, and Daniel Zugg
Juniors: Hannes Lohfeyer, Nils Oberauer, and Julian Tritscher
Youth: Silvano Wolf
