In our series "FIS Ski Jumping-Talk" we present interviews with ski jumping athletes and officials. Today: Thomas Morgenstern (28).

Thomas Morgenstern is one of only four athletes, who could win the overall World Cup, the 4-Hills-Tournament and individual Gold at World Championships and Olympic Games. After a crash at the Kulm in January 2014 the Austrian announced his retirement in September 2014.

In August Morgenstern won Gold in the Junior's category at the Helicopter World Championships.

FIS Ski Jumping: Hello Thomas. How are you?

Thomas Morgenstern: Thank you, I'm doing great. Especially now with the helicopter thing, that was amazing.

FIS Ski Jumping: Did you find your new sporting home in flying a helicopter?

Morgenstern: That's difficult to say. It's a sport that's not really in the spotlight and very difficult to afford financially. You need a good package in order to continue in the future. But I think that with winning the title in Poland we could make it more popular also at home in Austria, so that people know there are helicopter competitions. That you don't just fly from A to B, but that you have to know the entire vehicle and master it. The exercises we had to do are all based on tow and rescue and transport flights. It's great that I can learn this. First and foremost this gives me more security and confidence with the vehicle. That's most important.

FIS Ski Jumping: Can you explain such a competition?

Morgenstern: There are four events. In order to really explain it in detail, we would probably need a extra page (laughs). The first flight is a navigation flight. You get an envelope with maps and coordinates and you have to find certain points without a GPS device. International emergency signals are marked there and of course it is all timed. Similar to an emergency operation when you have to find and rescue a person, you don't know exactly where to go and you have to filter a lot of information.

The second exercise is a precision flight, where you have to fly at a constant height of exactly three meters and carry out various maneuvers. And you have to land the helicopter within 5 cm of the arrival line.

In the third exercise the co-pilot get's a device, which is also used for boats to prevent them from hitting the landing stage. This fender then must be moved into containers with a rope from different heights. Then you have to start with a bucket on the rope, fill it with water, fly through a course and put the bucket on a 1 square meter small table. Of course without losing water.

FIS Ski Jumping: Flying and ski jumping are totally different. Is there still something from your former career, that helps you now?

Morgenstern: What helps me is the experience in competing. I took part in more than 300 World Cup events. This helps to focus. The coaches also always tell me that I learn extremely fast and can implement what I've learned. Apart from that, there's not much that I can use now. Both, ski jumping and flying, require a good feel for it.

All in all, I may be on a good way when it comes to flying and that makes me proud.

FIS Ski Jumping: Would you like to continue taking part in such competitions?

Morgenstern: I would really like to do that. In December I'll be participating in the World Air Games in Dubai. This is an amazing goal. World Championships are only held every three years, so the next will be 2018. In between there are open Championships, for example in Germany, Poland or Russia. I'll take part in the one or the other of these events for sure.

FIS Ski Jumping: The ski jumpers are currently training for the next season. Do you miss that?

Morgenstern: I don't miss the training because I still train to stay physically fit. What I'm missing a bit is the clear plan. Something that you work towards. It's a different life. I can't say that I really miss it, but it's a big change. What I miss is definitely the emotion that I got to experience in ski jumping. I now found it again in flying. To stand on top of the podium.

FIS Ski Jumping: When a soccer player ends his professional career, he can still play in a soccer team in his spare time. This is almost impossible in ski jumping, to jump just for fun. Do you miss the jumping?

Morgenstern: Basically this is over for me, because it's simply not possible anymore. Of course you can jump for fun, but that's not what I want. There was a time when I mastered ski jumping in perfection, I know how this feels. And I also know who shitty it feels when it's not working the way it should. That's why it's okay for me to say that it was a part of my life that shaped me and set the course for my future life. I'm happy and grateful, that I can look back on such a career.

FIS Ski Jumping: Did you follow ski jumping closely in the past season?

Morgenstern: Yes, I was at the 4-Hills-Tournament, at the Kulm and in Planica. Apart from that I watched almost every competition on TV. I'm still very interested in it. I also visited the Austrian team during training camps a few times. And I also have a close relationship with Heinz Kuttin. He only lives about 15 minutes from me, so we are almost neighbors. So I'm also up to date and I like it that way.

FIS Ski Jumping: Can you image to return to ski jumping as a coach?

Morgenstern: I can imagine that, but right now it won't happen. I want to get some distance and find out that there are other things in life. Flying, for example, is a new passion. I'm currently in the process of finding myself.

FIS Ski Jumping: Of course this question has to be asked: Who is your favorite for the next World Cup season

Morgenstern: It's still some time left until then (laughs). Because of my World Championships I didn't really see a lot of the Grand Prix.

FIS Ski Jumping: The Austrians still have some room for improvement ...

Morgenstern: That's right (laughs). I noticed that, but that means nothing. What happens in summer is no guarantee for the winter. Severin Freund will definitely be among the best again. I consider him the strongest. Of the Austrians, Stefan Kraft can achieve a lot again. Also Gregor Schlierenzauer should not be written off. I'm sure he did a great job again and will return to the top. And there are the usual suspects. Peter Prevc has to be pointed out. Kamil Stoch is hard to beat when he has momentum. I'm very interested to see Phillip Soeen. He already has some great jumps with which he can outperform the competition. This shows his quality. It's a matter of time until he can implement that. Simon Ammann has the mission 4-Hills-Tournament again. I would be really happy to see that it works for him. But the strongest will be Severin Freund.

FIS Ski Jumping: Last question: You were part of the amazing success streak of the Austrians at the 4-Hills-Tournament. Even if you would want Simon Ammann to win the title - can the Austrians extend this streak

Morgenstern: Of course, nothing speaks against it. They have to show good performances anyway and I would be happy for everyone on the team. It would be great if the streak would continue (laughs).

Source: fis-ski.com