Reinhard Hess – “I don't distance myself, but I'm calmer”
Reinhard Heß after ten years as head coach of the German national team, will not lead its players to the inauguration of the World Cup this year, nor in the next competitions of the season.
Each year, for ten years, was present at the first competition of the season, as a coach of German players.
Today it is on the other side: If in Finnish Kuusamo Martin Schmitt, Sven Hannawald and company will pass near the hill's threshold, will see Wolfgang Steiert, instead of Reinhard Hess, standing with a German flag, which gives the signal to start the jump.
Heß will be watching the juniors in St. Moritz.
“There are players from two, three vintages, I'd like to see a picture of their current skills”, says Hess, and then adds: “There I will also watch the inaugural competition of the World Cup”.
Post-season coaching change incidents 2002/03, which were absorbed by the German Ski Association and various media, according to Hess, they are already finished. “Because it doesn't make any sense, to discuss this further. Life, sports go on – everything is explained”. 58-year old from Thuringia, ski jumping coach, does not distance itself from the past, but based on a new position in the German Ski Association, as head coaches, calmly observes the competition live or in front of the TV. “I will continue to feel the tingling in my stomach,
but not at any time”.
In seven towns, where the World Cup will be held, Reinhard Heß will work for ARD as a commentator. His debut in this role will take place 6.-7. December in Trondheim, Norway. In that, that double function – head coach here, analyst there – could be causing problems Hess does not believe. “I assume, that the German team will be successful – and it will simplify the reports. There shouldn't be an accident, that I expect it, that I will show respect to others towards the work of the coach. I will be critical, but respectful. I can handle any situation, where others are from now on. I will never forget that”.
The former coach defies many experts: “I don't believe, It's going to be a generation change season. Famous players will continue to set the tone, the same, who in almost every season, though there will be one or two new names – and I hope so, that we will have Maximilian Mechler at the top of the scoreboard. Equipment changes made it difficult to switch, Germany and other nations were not immune to this. However, these problems will last until the first competition, and at the latest the 4-Hills-Tournament. Because of tighter overalls, the jury will have to decide to increase the inrun speed, to achieve distances comparable to those of last year”.
Sven Hannawald and Martin Schmitt are also Germany's great hope this season. Hannawald firmly believes, that he'll be back in the lead, however, it is he who is behind the name Schmitt, which is still a great unknown. What can he achieve now?? How strong he is? Hess does not know the answer to this question: “I don't know, what can we expect from Schmitt. However, I was too far from preparing in the summer. It was so planned, so that Steiert can work without my shadow. the fact is, that Martin Schmitt was training without pain for the first time in three years, without complaining about injuries, and that's positive. He's technically in that position, that he can achieve results to the best of his ability. So the question is about his willingness to take risks, which only he can answer. To, what Martin needs, it's a good result, some success. But if Schmitt jumps, then it has to break it down to that extent, to meet your requirements. I can not imagine, that he will be jumping for a year, reaching average 20 place”.
Reinhard Heß is still in the middle of the world of his favorite sport. And this is a very important thing for German and world ski jumping.