Back on skis

ÖSV hopefuls were beaming with sunshine

(Bild: Ski Austria)

A cruciate ligament rupture while free skiing on December 29, 2023 was Martin-Luis Walch's undoing. His Vorarlberg compatriot Leonie Zegg suffered a torn collateral ligament in a giant slalom shortly before the end of the season. But now the duo's time of suffering is over: both are back on their skis.

As the sun rose over the Stiflser Joch at 6.32 am on Tuesday, 19-year-old Leonie Zegg from Lech and 21-year-old Martin-Luis Walch from Schwarzenberg were beaming with joy. "What could be better than making your skiing comeback on a day like this," mused speed hopeful Walch, who was back on his head slats for the first time 242 days after tearing his cruciate ligament.

"I simply enjoyed every one of my turns to the full," revealed Zegg, who tore her collateral ligament in the FIS giant slalom on the Glungezer on April 5 this year and has been a member of the ÖSV C squad since this season.

The duo, who spent three days on the Stilfserjoch, are currently being coached by "back-to-race coach" Meini Tatschl on their way back. "If everything goes well, I'll be back with my actual group from September 30th," says Zegg.

Walch's goal: "I want to work on my fitness to be ready for the European Cup speed start in Santa Caterina in mid-December. If everything goes according to plan, I should be ready to fly to Nakiska in Canada with the EC speed group in mid-November."