Around the World
„Johannes Rydzek is our biggest star!“
The big Summer Grand Prix finals have had their home in Oberstdorf for the last couple of years and have always included at least one victory of local hero Johannes Rydzek in the last five of them. OC Secretary General Stefan Huber on his big star, the importance of the SGP for Oberstdorf and the Youth Cup development.
First of all, congratulations for the successful World Championship bid 2021 - a special boost of extra motivation for all upcoming events?
Stefan Huber: Thank you very much. We are very happy that we have finally gotten the „yes“ to host the World Championships 2021 in Oberstdorf. The excitement and euphoria is tremendous in our team but also in the greater Oberstdorf region. We will use this opportunity to generate important impulses for our young athletes, high performance sports and our training facilities and events.
What can we look forward to in Oberstdorf this summer?
Huber: We will start the roller-ski races right from the ski jumping stadium again, with all the extra effort that means. It is a huge task for the whole team but the atmosphere it generates is just amazing. Especially all the spectators at the last ascent to the stadium generate a very unique „Tour de France“ feeling.
Something’s always going on in Oberstdorf and also the number of summer tourists is high. What kind of importance can an event like the Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix have in these kind of surroundings?
Huber: The FIS Summer Grand Prix is important for Oberstdorf on different levels. It’s the touristic summer sports highlight at the Erdinger Arena and a big motivation for all our young athletes as well as the amazing chance to welcome the world’s best Nordic Combined athletes in Oberstdorf. In 2016/17, the Summer Grand Prix fits our top event schedule very well: Four Hills Tournament, Tour de Ski, the pre-World Championships in Ski Flying and the FIS World Cup Ladies’ Ski Jumping. With this kind of schedule we’re able to welcome the world’s elite in all Nordic disciplines in Oberstdorf in the course of the year.
Your local hero Johannes Rydzek has been successful again at his home venue in the past year, his victory series spanning incredible five years now. Can he actually lose at the Erdinger Arena?
Huber: Johannes Rydzek is our biggest star. He motivates the young athletes and takes part in club activities like the Skiclub Oberstdorf club championships or the Kratzer-Lauf whenever his time permits it. He’s very attached to the club and his home and of course he knows his home training venue like the back of his own hand. I’m sure he’s able to use this to his advantage. If he’s in shape, he’ll fight for podium places, for sure. But as usual the competition is strong and does not sleep.
Oberstdorf has successfully hosted the FIS Youth Cup since 2009. Does it make you a bit proud to see the concept growing and spreading to more venues now?
Huber: It’s fantastic. It is great that the young Nordic Combined athletes, boys and girls, are able to take part in international competitions and have these perfect training conditions at the same time. Every FIS Youth Cup venue has its specific features and highlights. I think it’s very impressive what FIS and the local organising committees have built up in the past two years.
Oberstdorf is also very much in demand as a training base. Did you already manage to sneak a peek at some team or do you already know who will visit you in fall before the season starts in earnest in November?
Huber: Training season is in full swing and we have been able to welcome quite a number of teams for training already. It will be even more busy in October and November when we start offering training with an ice track on the large hill. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined teams from over 20 nations will be lining up to train in Oberstdorf then. Enjoy Oberstdorf! (laughs)
Source: fis-ski.com
First of all, congratulations for the successful World Championship bid 2021 - a special boost of extra motivation for all upcoming events?
Stefan Huber: Thank you very much. We are very happy that we have finally gotten the „yes“ to host the World Championships 2021 in Oberstdorf. The excitement and euphoria is tremendous in our team but also in the greater Oberstdorf region. We will use this opportunity to generate important impulses for our young athletes, high performance sports and our training facilities and events.
What can we look forward to in Oberstdorf this summer?
Huber: We will start the roller-ski races right from the ski jumping stadium again, with all the extra effort that means. It is a huge task for the whole team but the atmosphere it generates is just amazing. Especially all the spectators at the last ascent to the stadium generate a very unique „Tour de France“ feeling.
Something’s always going on in Oberstdorf and also the number of summer tourists is high. What kind of importance can an event like the Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix have in these kind of surroundings?
Huber: The FIS Summer Grand Prix is important for Oberstdorf on different levels. It’s the touristic summer sports highlight at the Erdinger Arena and a big motivation for all our young athletes as well as the amazing chance to welcome the world’s best Nordic Combined athletes in Oberstdorf. In 2016/17, the Summer Grand Prix fits our top event schedule very well: Four Hills Tournament, Tour de Ski, the pre-World Championships in Ski Flying and the FIS World Cup Ladies’ Ski Jumping. With this kind of schedule we’re able to welcome the world’s elite in all Nordic disciplines in Oberstdorf in the course of the year.
Your local hero Johannes Rydzek has been successful again at his home venue in the past year, his victory series spanning incredible five years now. Can he actually lose at the Erdinger Arena?
Huber: Johannes Rydzek is our biggest star. He motivates the young athletes and takes part in club activities like the Skiclub Oberstdorf club championships or the Kratzer-Lauf whenever his time permits it. He’s very attached to the club and his home and of course he knows his home training venue like the back of his own hand. I’m sure he’s able to use this to his advantage. If he’s in shape, he’ll fight for podium places, for sure. But as usual the competition is strong and does not sleep.
Oberstdorf has successfully hosted the FIS Youth Cup since 2009. Does it make you a bit proud to see the concept growing and spreading to more venues now?
Huber: It’s fantastic. It is great that the young Nordic Combined athletes, boys and girls, are able to take part in international competitions and have these perfect training conditions at the same time. Every FIS Youth Cup venue has its specific features and highlights. I think it’s very impressive what FIS and the local organising committees have built up in the past two years.
Oberstdorf is also very much in demand as a training base. Did you already manage to sneak a peek at some team or do you already know who will visit you in fall before the season starts in earnest in November?
Huber: Training season is in full swing and we have been able to welcome quite a number of teams for training already. It will be even more busy in October and November when we start offering training with an ice track on the large hill. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined teams from over 20 nations will be lining up to train in Oberstdorf then. Enjoy Oberstdorf! (laughs)
Source: fis-ski.com
