Andi Goldberger “Finishing in the top five is the goal for the season”
He would have to think back himself, to remember, when was the last time in his long athletic career he'd been so laid back, like in the last days. And he probably wouldn't know exactly.
Goldberger, 30-summer senior in the international elite of ski jumpers, physically he looks no worse than his Red Bull teammate Thomas Morgenstern (30. October ends 17 lat), and this season he intends to fight with the best again.
Currently, the Austrian trains in Lahti, and describes it from there: Storm warning on Tuesday, wind speed up to 25 m/s., discontinuation of exercises after several jumps in difficult conditions: “Nothing happens, in winter there are also difficult conditions at times. You have to go through it!”
“Summer gives me courage for the future”
Goldberger is booming (or jumps?) in seven clouds.
Left shoulder surgery in the spring, which resulted in three months, often an annoying stay in the hospital, the first part of therapy – it's all in the past.
The present is: training on the hill from the beginning of July, leaving the first part of the Summer-Grand-Prix (“because I was just not prepared for competition jumping”), successful testing of new equipment, a flawless return to the game in Predazzo and Innsbruck. “I was satisfied to some extent “, sums up the likable athlete, “I don't want to overestimate my results, although I was eleventh in Italy and seventh in Bergisel.
I still had a lot of hardware issues, and the run-up was extremely long. You lose one or two kilometers per hour and it's a completely different matter! But what am I most happy about: I not only had one or two good jumps in the competition, but I also jumped in training. My places are not important now, I especially need stability. It gives me courage for the future!”
“My standard of living has increased”
About 200 jumps were given by Andreas Goldberger from 1. July under the guidance of coach Hannu Lepistö or in the group of Alex Dieß, second coach of the B team residing in Rif.
“Until the start of the World Cup approx 300 I will have trials. That has to be enough, if their quality is ok. I'm betting on that, not by quantity.”
Goldberger radiates confidence, which is mixed with a breeze of euphoria. “The basics of my form are good, I also feel good physically. Every day of training improves my mood, even if I don't have full freedom of shoulder movement yet. I can't handle the hard stuff yet – and I can't stand on my hands. But I don't have to. Therapeutic exercises, should take me at least half an hour every day. I take it very seriously in every case and try to do it conscientiously. Too much can never be done in rehabilitation!”
golf (Handicap 16) and tennis, the native Waldzeller can play again. Goldi still has to refrain from playing football and volleyball. “But I feel fine, I don't have any mental blocks. I don't think all the time, that I could get injured, or that I should not make one or the other move.”
In October, a three-time winner of the World Cup, flying world champion, record holder in jump length and 4-Hills-Tournament winner wants to work on improving his jumping power. The World Cup starts at the end of November, and Goldberger does not intend to play the role of an extra in it. The definition of its purpose is similar, as in years gone by: to be in the lead from the first competition, The 4-Hills-Tournament is the first important goal, and the World Ski Flying Championships next. However, a new tone is given to it.
“I do not mean it, to prepare on time for one event. I want to perform at a good level throughout the season, and my goal is to be in the top five of the World Cup standings. It would be a great deal.”
The subject of cup victories is left open by the player, although he won the last triumph 9. brand 1996 year. Perhaps on purpose.
“To beat the competition, everything has to match. Victory is unplanned. You don't just have to jump well, but also to have some luck or at least not to be unlucky”, says Goldberger. His considerations: “If I can be there all season
in the lead, they won't be injured or anything will be wrong with me, I might even try to win a contest.
But I can't force myself to do it.”
“If Thomas Morgenstern needs advice, it's enough”
With Adam Małysz and Thomas Morgenstern, Andreas Goldberger now has more than one, but already two comrades in the Red Bull team in the World Cup. It makes him very happy.
“This is a sign, that the owner of the company, Dietrich Mateschitz, identifies himself with ski jumping, and I will be very happy, if always one of us three will be in the lead – even if it won't always be me…”
He developed special, the Austrian Morgenstern-Goldberger alliance. “Goldi” is currently the driver of the winner of the Summer-GP. Morgenstern doesn't have a driver's license yet. Most often, his father drives him to Salzburg, where he gets into Goldberger's car. “We mostly exchange notes, just like all the players on the team”, Goldberger explains. “I don't impose. If he needs guidance, can get them from me.”
“Maxi Mechler showed it in Innsbruck, what he can do”
The performance of Martin Schmitt and Sven Hannawald in the Summer-Grand-Prix Goldberger does not want and cannot judge. “Firstly: I have enough to do by myself. Secondly: their achievements are so, like my own, they cannot be converted. Summer ski jumping is a test of form, equipment, competition rhythm exercises. Thirdly: please don't just talk
about Schmit and Hannawald, but about Maxi Mechler, which
in Innsbruck showed it, what he can do.”
“I am completely satisfied with my skis”
Equipment for other jumpers is probably still questionable, and this is a plus of the Goldberger system. “I am completely satisfied with my new skis. I trust Fischer and serviceman Franz Neuländtner – they want the best for me too. As for overalls, I know, that they will always find the optimal solution. I jump in Meininger products. The new rules will probably be less a matter of luck, it won't make a difference to the best though: that's what the jumpsuit does, that you have a very good feeling and during the inspection everything fits.” In Austria, overalls are also produced by Schneider and Eybl. Goldberger: “So far, I have not tested any of these brands, because I haven't received any outfits from these companies yet.”
“I will devote myself to jumping and I will have fun”
Does not matter. Surrounded by national team coach Hannu Lepistö, club coach Alex Diess, manager Edi Federer and having at his disposal the Red Bull training center in Thalgau, Andreas Goldberger's future looks bright. There remains a question, whether Goldi will part with skis after the upcoming season, Will he continue his career?: “I don't know. Really. I have no idea, will this be my last winter. I'm just going to jump and have fun. We'll see what's next later!”