LA LOUPE Garmisch - Partenkirchen No. 1 - 2013/2014

‘It’s always been my
childhood dream to
ski down the Streif at
racing speed.’
‘I’d love nothing more
than to be able to do a
World Cup race there
once again.’
‘I love our Bavarian
culture and the unique
landscape.’
F.N. ⁄ The first victory in Kitzbühel because of my father and the
silver medal in Schladming because of the scenery and the special
duel with Marcel Hirscher.
L.L. ⁄ A great season with World Championship silver and bronze lies
behind you. What are your athletic goals for winter 2013/2014?
F.N. ⁄ It’s my goal to get better and to push my limits even further.
Apart from that I’ll take things as they come.
L.L. ⁄ You are a dedicated slalom and giant slalom specialist. But are
you attracted to the speed-contests, too?
F.N. ⁄ It was and still is my childhood dream to race down the Streif,
the slope in Kitzbühel at racing speed. So from an emotional point
of view and my personal attitude I love speed races, unfortunately I
‘can’t’ participate because it would simply ‘damage’ my slalom skills.
Apart from that there are quite a few old injuries I carry around
with me which would not allow me to compete in this dangerous and
extremely challenging discipline.
L.L. ⁄ Looking at the international racing circus – would you say that
real friendships can form between the international racers or is the
competitive attitude in the way?
F.N. ⁄ We in the slalom race community have friendly relationships
on an international level, too. We help each other if there’s something
one of us needs. And of course the race is all about winning, only with
sportsmanlike means though. We congratulate the winner with honest
respect. I think that this attitude we live is what makes the scene
so unique. Be it myself, Marcel Hirscher, Ted Ligety or Julien
Lizeroux – we’re all happy about what we have in common and
about our common experiences off-piste.
L.L. ⁄ Do you have a favorite piste in the Alpine Ski World Cup?
F.N. ⁄ That would definitely be ‚heimischer Gudiberg‘. It’s my homeslope,
where I learned to ski and it’s also one of the most challenging
ones. I’d love nothing more than to be able to do a World Cup race
there once more.
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L.L. ⁄ And which piste in Garmisch-Partenkirchen do you love most?
F.N. ⁄ Kandahar, of course! Down from Kreuzjoch, over the Kramer-