Reaction to false start

“Best speech” led ÖSV to double podium

Stefan Brennsteiner (left) and Patrick Feurstein let the ÖSV celebrate.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Huge relief for the ÖSV team: after a false start to the season, Patrick Feurstein and Stefan Brennsteiner raced to a sensational podium on Saturday in Val d'Isere! A speech by ÖSV head coach Marko Pfeifer was partly responsible for this.

After the Beaver Creek triple, Marko Pfeifer took stock in an interview with the "Krone". The Carinthian was aware of the construction sites, but he saw no reason to panic despite the modest haul of one podium finish in six men's races: "It's far too early to create unrest!"

Marko Pfeifer(Bild: GEPA)

Mega catch-up race from Feurstein
On Saturday at the giant slalom in Val d'Isere, his protégés showed the perfect reaction to the unsatisfactory start to the season. Patrick Feurstein raced from 24th place (!) to second place in the final, finishing directly ahead of Stefan Brennsteiner. Only the Swiss Marco Odermatt prevented an Austrian one-two victory.

Calm despite poor results
In any case, the supposed crisis was not an issue within the team. "We get pressure from you media. I stayed calm," said Brennsteiner in the ORF interview.

There was high praise not only for team-mate Feurstein, but also for head coach Marko Pfeifer. "He gave one of the best speeches before the race. He was very calm, gave us confidence and told us to all pull together," Brennsteiner revealed. With success! On Saturday, the ÖSV team had reason to celebrate again ...