Opinion

Winter sports land with heroes, but almost no racing

Bright sunshine, blue skies and plenty of snow on the Grasjoch in the Silvretta Montafon. Volunteers with smiles on their faces and just as happy as the snowboard crossers about the World Cup comeback in the Montafon. At this moment, it is sad to realize that this is the only World Cup competition in the "winter sports state" of Vorarlberg. 

A country that was "proud of Strolz" and his three medals at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. A country that was delighted with Kathi Liensberger's slalom silver and her membership of the golden ÖSV team. A country that celebrated silver and bronze with luger Thomas Steu and cheered for "Izzi" after winning gold. A country that, with ski jumper Eva Pinkelnig and ski crossers like Mathias Graf, has even more golden potential in other disciplines with a view to the 2026 Olympics in Milan/Cortina.

Important task for the new presidium
A country, however, that does not manage to organize further events for its "heroes" - which they are every four years if they are successful - in the Ländle. I'm not even talking about World Cups, but about events one or two levels below. The only exception at the moment: four FIS women's races that will be held next week on the Grasjoch. Changing this will be just one of many tasks for a new VSV presidency to tackle after the announced retirement of President Walter Hlebayna in 2025.