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The Tour is a mystery for me

2017-07-14 · 10:54

In the upcoming interview DSV-eagle Richard Freitag talks about the upcoming Summer Grand-Prix, his goals for the next season and his best Tour-experience.

 

Four Hills Tournament: Richard, how was your summer vacation? 

Richard Freitag: I haven’t been on a longer vacation, I was at home or rather out and about on the weekend and tried to relax and recover that way. The first medical examinations and athletics courses started at the beginning of May already. We are back on the hill since mid/ end of May already and have been preparing most recently in Stams, Innsbruck and Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the Summer-Grand-Prix. 

 

No time at all for hobbies in the ski jump free time? 

I was out with friends a lot. Just relaxing together, on the bike or hiking. Both are very good to take a break. Maybe during summer there will be a motorcycle tour.  

 

Are there any parallels between motorcycling and ski jumping 

Motorcycling is more relaxing for me but you have to concentrate. It is similar to ski jumping, you have to be focused and can not dream on the bike. There is nothing more beautiful though than feeling the wind in your face. 

 

Where is the adrenaline kick bigger? Motorcycle tour through the Erz Mountains or Bergisel Jumping, second round on the beam. 

I have to say at the start beam (laughs). 

 

You already were in Oberstdorf, Garmisch, Bischofshofen and in Innsbruck - is that part of the normal pre-season preparation or are you secretly preparing the final touches for the tour? 

We usually train on the tour entrenchments every year, so that is standard procedure. Most of the time we do a few jumps on the ice track in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberstdorf in fall, where we prepare directly for the winter season. 

 

Sven Hannawald was on-site in Innsbruck as well. Is that a chance to get some advice from the former Four Hills Tournament Champion? 

Not really, actually, with regard to his upcoming commentator season Sven naturally wants to be informed and therefore it’s more him asking the questions than the other was around. (laughs) I like that he obtains information personally. Sven was at the entrenchment and got the information he needs. We trained and after that we had a quick chat. 

 

What are the biggest differences between the jumps in summer on the mat and in winter on snow - apart from the underground? 

There are no big differences in the jump. As there is no ice but a ceramics surface during summer training the ski is not deducted, unlike in winter, which means the wax stays on the surface area. 

 

Are you more of a summer or a winter type when it comes to jumping? 

Definitely winter, for me it is way too warm now. 

 

The Summer Grand Prix starts in a few days already, with the kick-off in Wisla (Poland). Will we see you in all competitions at the Summer Grand Prix? 

I will definitely be in Wisla, the remaining send-offs will be figures out over the summer season. In this case the coaches have the biggest influence and send off according to performance level, growth and of course training plan. 

 

Is the Summer Grand Prix all about results for you or are you primarily considering this a training for winter? 

Yes, I view it as training with competition character. It mainly serves the orientation in regard to the World Cup. The competitions immediately show where you have to work on yourself. 

 

What is your opinion on the rule changes which will be tested during the Summer Grand Prix. Especially regarding the novelty that all jumpers have to complete the qualifying round? 

I understand the decision, the qualifying round is upgraded and because of the conditions of participation the aim is the same rules for everyone. The Summer Grand Prix offers a good opportunity for everyone to test those changes. 

 

Let’s look back on the last season. The team reached a few podium placements. For you personally it was a 3rd place in Zakopane and a few top ten placements and 13th place in the overall World Cup. Satisfied? 

Rather not. I was hoping for more. I did hope for the World Cup because Lahti normally does agree with me. Of course I had hoped to jump better but unfortunately I was unable to. There is a saying: the jumping and singing you cannot force. I will never learn to sing, the jumping however I hope to do better again (laughs). To be in the top 13 in the world is overall  very ok but I want to be further ahead again. The podium place in Zakopane was important and gives confidence for the coming season. 

 

You once said that you would like take it slower in sports and in your life. Did that work? Were you too ambitious before? 

Yes, I think I succeeded, I don’t take it all so serious anymore. But that alone does not guarantee better results. I think it needs a good balance between strong ambition and relaxed, well guided practice and competitions.  

 

Four Hills Tournament, Ski Flying World Cup in Oberstdorf and Olympic Games in Pyeongchang - that is an exciting season coming up. Where are your priorities? 

Good question, how do you set priorities in a case like this. It is important to sort all this a bit and not overlook the “small“ steps besides the big goals. Primarily I want to fight for top placements in the World Cup again and create a good total package. Nonetheless the upcoming big events are of course a driving force. Another goal is to raise my top distance, ideally at the Ski Flying World Cup in Oberstdorf. 

 

And for the Tour? 

66th Four Hills Tournament, I could get used to that number on my autograph card (laughs). I tried a few approaches, to set the goals high; just starting the tour without pressure… So far without success. I will give myself a bit more time this year and then prepare an approach. 

 

What makes the tour so special? 

First of all it has a lot of media coverage. Second it is a great challenge both physically and mentally for all athletes. Within a short amount of time four competitions on four entrenchments and with a unique duel system. The tour is just a mystery for me (laughs). - Some do top jumps non-stop - others have to fight hard, sometimes there are surprises. 

 

What was your most beautiful experience at this mystery? 

Definitely the win in Innsbruck 2015! Good friends from home were there, they held up the Erzgebirge flag and celebrated, that was really special and a beautiful moment. Just awesome. 

 

So the entrenchment in Innsbruck is your favourite? 

We just were in Innsbruck and that didn't go so well (laughs). To be honest I see the biggest challenge every year in Bischofshofen - don't know why - most of the time I jump well, that’s probably why it is my favourite entrenchment. 

 

You have one wish. Which title do you take? Tour, World Cup oder Olympic Games? 

All of them (laughs). 

 

How do you explain the performance explosion of your team mate Andreas Wellinger, who could really show himself during the last season, with a few podium placements and 4th place in the overall World Cup?  

He worked really well in summer and fall. That was the foundation. And then you need an aha-moment for such an explosion. That could be a leap in practice or a competition. You have to have an idea in practice that works during competition. You have to have a breakthrough - so to speak. If that happens you can surf on that wave. I think that was the case with Andreas. What happened next was really brilliant. 

 

Noriaki Kasai is an absolute fan favourite in the ski jump scene and at 45 still jumps like a young one. What is your relationship like? 

Unfortunately the communication is not that easy, my Japanese isn't the best… We communicate partly in English and with hand and feet, somehow you still understand one another. Nori has been doing this a really long time and shows top results again and again. His experiences… I think that will be a heavy book, I hope (laughs). He really is a great guy. 

 

Do you spontaneously have an anecdote? 

The goodbye party for Thomas Morgenstern in Bischofshofen. When I made the rounds to greet everyone Nori was sitting at the bar and balanced his red wine glass like a gentlemen between two finger… very calm: „hey Richie“ and a short nod, followed by a wide grin. Glorious. Later he joined everyone on the dancefloor and we danced Gangnam-Style. A great memory which I will cherish forever. 

Thank you for the conversation, Richard! 

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