However, it didn’t look like that for a long time; Hämmerle felt the after-effects of the concussions until the second half of September. “I had to subordinate the whole training to that. Once it became more intense, the symptoms became worse. “It was a snap,” he revealed to the APA. But Hämmerle and those around him found a good way to still be able to complete the training.
“We have found alternatives, especially in the Vorarlberg Olympic Center. We had to juggle certain things,” said the three-time overall World Cup winner. He had to keep the intensity in the strength area low, but in terms of endurance he was generally in a good position. Nevertheless, there were “ups and downs”. “When things were good, I was cocky, and then I did something that made it worse again.”
“I think it fits”
That’s another reason why he wants to keep the ball flat, but the course of October gave him a lot of confidence. However, so far only starting sections have been practiced on snow, primarily due to weather conditions. It won’t be until November 6th that the full length of a course will begin for the first time. “But I’m pretty confident about that. I think it’s a good fit.” The focus is already on the first World Cups in the snow-sure areas of Les Deux Alpes (December 1st and 2nd) and Cervinia (December 15th to 17th).
GEPA/Patrick Steiner The highlight of Alessandro Hämmerle’s career so far is the 2022 Olympic victory in Beijing
Hämmerle would like to build on his performance from 2022/23, but avoid falls and subsequent effects. He wants to achieve this with new material, with which he ideally wants to outrun the competition. “In the best case scenario, get away so that you are no longer brought together,” said the 2021 vice world champion. The second fall, including the concussion he suffered, happened to him in the World Cup final in March, so he only came fourth.
Hämmerle was knocked off his feet by German Martin Nörl in Bakuriani, Georgia. The appeals committee of the International Ski and Snowboard Association (FIS) rejected the protest by the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) against the rating of the World Cup race. According to the ÖSV, the FIS justified this decision by saying that no further protests could be lodged on site after a final jury decision. The considered decision to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was ultimately rejected.
Material adaptation gives confidence
The counterattack should be sporty, the new material follows the new route characteristics. “The courses are a little smaller, the corners are a little tighter. The material was still geared towards the 22 games, which were more like highways. As soon as there was a longer radius, I couldn’t get around the corner and had to leave my inside lines open. I was vulnerable there, the opponents knew that, and they took advantage of that.”
The entire ÖSV team responded to this – at the suggestion of the trainers, the service team and the snowboard company. Hämmerle: “I notice it in the speed, unbelievable. I can move better on the board. I am extremely satisfied. We’ve never been so quiet about material in recent years. This almost makes me and my service man suspicious. The training times in the starting area were very promising. Now we’ll see how it works on a whole course.”
