As national coach at the German Ski Association (DSV), Lukas Berro has been responsible for young freeskiers for more than three years. The 32-year-old works closely with national coach Jirka Volak. With Muriel Mohr and Vincent Veile, two German athletes could compete at the Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo and Milan. Berro is working to ensure that more German freeskiers find their way to the top in the world in the future.
WELT: Halfpipe, Big Air, Slopestyle – freeskiing is hip and popular among young people. The German Ski Association shouldn’t have any worries about young talent, right?
Lukas Berro: Unfortunately that is not the case. We had weak vintages because few young people came into contact with this great sport. In Germany there is a lack of a freeskiing club structure and fun parks where you can practice our sport. This is different from our neighboring countries Austria and Switzerland, where the kids register in the freeski divisions of the ski clubs and spend a lot of time together in the snow park in guided training, improving together and thus drawing attention to themselves and the sport.
WELT: What are you doing about it?
scream: We at the German Ski Association are trying to simulate the lack of club structure and develop a contact point for kids interested in freeskiing. The tool for this is the DSV Freeski Coaching Days. We offer free training in some snow parks in Bavaria and ski areas near the border on up to 20 days a year. This is how we make the kids aware of us and the sport. This is our most important tool for scouting talent between the ages of nine and 15. There are many children who find freeskiing cooler than the alpine disciplines. But then you can’t train it properly. Most people who don’t live directly in the mountains come into contact with our sport for the first time on vacation.
WELT: Where a day ticket for the lifts costs over 70 euros. Does this make it more difficult to work with young talent?
scream: Luckily, many ski areas have youth tariffs, which we make the best possible use of. With season tickets in Tyrol or Salzburg we have access to some fun parks where we mainly go for training. But unfortunately, this is also why talent is filtered out who simply couldn’t afford the sport.
WELT: How much does a season cost for a promising talent who wants to make the leap to the top?
scream: With equipment, travel, overnight stays and ski passes, you can add up to a few thousand euros if the children are ambitious and want to make it to the European Cup. We have learned that through the Life School of Competitive Sports we can provide the children with a proper path for which the parents are also prepared to generate the budget. This also includes content in addition to sports that will help the kids enormously in their personal development and as they grow up.
WELT: Is it a sport only for rich people?
scream: No. Many children come directly from the ski areas and have a season ticket. It’s not that expensive, especially since you don’t have to travel there and stay overnight. We try to form carpools as best we can using the vehicles provided by the association in order to best deal with the situation for the children and parents. But the parents have to cover a few kilometers.
WELT: And then still nothing is guaranteed.
scream: Unfortunately no. A high level of intrinsic motivation is absolutely necessary and unfortunately not everyone has that. Especially during puberty, we keep losing talents who take a different path. Competitive sport demands a lot of sacrifice from young athletes, especially when it comes to parties, friends and family.
WELT: With Vincent Veile and Muriel Mohr, two Germans are starting in the World Cup. What is needed for a broader foundation?
scream: As mentioned before, we try to bring new talent into the squad structures of the state sports associations through the coaching days. I’ve been here for three and a half years now and together with my coaching colleagues at DSV and BSV we’ve made a lot of progress. I am confident that this will bear further fruit in the coming years.
WELT: Are the conditions sufficient for this?
scream: I come from the Czech Republic. For me it was much more difficult in terms of finances, the facilities of the sports facilities and the equipment. The boys and girls already have great opportunities here in Germany. For example, when I see the equipment at the boarding school in Berchtesgaden, especially with the new landing bag – other nations can only dream of that.
WELT: Do teenagers appreciate that?
scream: Some more, some less. Especially the slightly older athletes in the system are experiencing how freeskiing is becoming more and more professional. The younger ones, on the other hand, are born into the current situation and perceive it as the standard. We currently have some talented players who started the season very motivated. Sometimes you have to slow down a little so as not to put too much strain on your health. Basically, you just have to answer the question yourself: Do you want to become a competitive athlete?
WELT: What is the answer?
scream: For those we have in the system, it says: yes. It’s like an engineer or a doctor. Then you just have to commit to it. If you want to become a really good doctor, you have to invest a lot. That’s how it is in competitive sports. The best conditions in Germany are with us at the CJD sports boarding school in Berchtesgaden. This is where the balancing act between sport and school can best be achieved. But you have to leave your family and friends behind at home.
WELT: In return, they can live their dream of becoming a professional.
scream: Yes. Your workplace is then the snow park. It couldn’t be hotter.
