It has been clear to me from the very start, that this season would not be easy for me. My summer and my preparation were full of ups and downs from a very good start, a very good Austrian Championship, up to jumps, which I really was disappointed about.

This emotion and the ups and downs would also accompany me during the season. Just like the slogan “what you cannot built up in summer, you cannot have in winter”, the start in the following season was, like I expected, very hard.

Up to the tournament I was able to make one or the other jump, which you could say felt “quite good”. But with such a sensible sport and such an amount of great jumpers you simply need some of these “really good” jumps in a row to be an important part of the competition. The jumps in Zakopane and the following ski flying in Oberstdorf were suitable the most time and it felt like a step forward.

At THE hightlight of the season, the Nordic Skiing World Championship, the silver medal in team of course was a very emotional moment and especially for me during such a “roller coaster ride” this season.

The same story again at the Raw Air Tournament in Norway – some jumps were not bad, nevertheless not perfect, and some others again not. But that’s simply how it works in ski jumping: you already need consistency in summer for the following winter season, you need to have your personal puzzle together consisting of feeling, material, implicitness and so on to master such a sport like ski jumping.

Overall I look back at the season, which showed me personally as well as in the matter of sports a lot and therefore helped me to make a step forward. In the following days I will gain power for the coming preparation and the upcoming summer with its great training sessions.

I am now really looking forward to the free days and meanwhile I just have to say thanks for the very special support and the great positive messages. Wish you all a great time,

Michi.

With the start of the Nordic Ski World Championships in Seefeld the home World Championships are just around the corner. When I’m thinking about the great history of the Bergisel (Olympic Games 64/76) and what the amazing atmosphere there means to a ski-jumper, all is said. -> It is going to be awesome!

When I am looking back to last summer, the word “emotion” is the first one, which comes to my mind. There were ups and downs of a “special class”, from a good summer start to “I don’t know where I am at” through to great Austrian Championships – all of it was in for me. The feeling when a jump “just works” wasn’t a long-stay guest during my preparations. All of these ups and downs should then stay by my side up until now this season.

Certainly that wasn’t the seasons’ and World Championships’ preparation I had hoped for. Material development in a sport that gets more and more sensitive and where the Set-up gains more and more importance… All of these factors which make this “puzzle” even harder to put together.

But ski jumping is not always a picnic. This can be seen quite clearly when looking at the many different results in the World Cup this season.

Being in that situation, in October Patrick and I developed our own plan, with which I want to improve step by step. So there are lots of intermediate goals, which help to accomplish something that isn’t easy to accomplish during the Wold cup season – the purpose is to acquire the so called “easiness”.

Up until the four hills tournament, and also in the last three to four weeks since Val di Fiemme, I really made progress and did some great jumps now and then. But to be able to mix it at the top I need several of these “really great” jumps in a row. 😉

I know that I am not one of the favourites for winning medals in Seefeld, but if there opens a chance, I will be ready. Because the only thing that matters at a major event is winning medals – wherever it takes place. At these World Championships I will fight (as I also did in the last few years) and I will do everything that’s in my power.

I know that we have a good plan, but in our sport you always need some luck too.

I’m really looking forward to the start of the World Championships. I hope lots of people will support me, because I will do my best as always.

See you soon,

Michi

The time till the four hills tournament always flies by. First ones looking forward to Christmas and the “silent time” at home and just a glimpse later one is back in the car to drive to Oberstdorf.

The last weeks I really struggled with my consistency – clear that my expectations towards the tour were not that good, I had to be realistic. Again, taking one more step, win consistency and to show some goods jumps – this were my targets.

When I take a look back, some things worked really well. In Oberstdorf still top 30 – and in Garmisch the classic – negatively spoken – Stefan and I had to watch the second run in front of the TV.

In Innsbruck, I felt a little better, I like the Hill and at the End a place around the 20^th was great to bring some euphoria towards Bischofshofen. On my favourite hill, in front of home-crowd I then showed the two best jumps of the tournament – at the end it paid off and I could get the 15^th place. Another step into the right direction.

To sum it up, my performance during the tour was similar to how it was the whole season. From missing consistency to really nice jumps – this season had everything.

But one thing for sure – we all will remember this historic tournee for a while – thanks Ryoyu Kobayashi. Unbelievable what he did during the four Events – congratulations. Winning all 4 competitions is unbelievable and will be in the history of ski jumping forever.

Last but not least – thanks again to all supporters for the fantastic atmosphere.

See you soon,

Michi

It has been more than a turbulent time in the last few weeks and months.

The summer started quiet and I had been looking forward to these summer months for a long time. After a long season this time is every year something special. I enjoyed the warm temperatures not simply in my hometown but also in Portugal, Lisbon was really great and I enjoyed it a lot. The culture, the special architecture and the good food have stayed in my mind, it really is a beautiful city – Portugal in general is a very beautiful country.

The jumping training courses in summer were not that easy for me. My jumps changed from “really good” to “not quite good” and I was not always that satisfied with my performance. It was hard for me to keep my consistency during the training and also Summer Grand Prix had not much feelings of success for me. Therefore my pleasure was much bigger about my performance at the Austrian Championships. With the gold medal on the normal jump and the silver medal at the larger hill I gained results, which I could not complain about, and I was really satisfied with my performance.

With this feeling of success I am looking forward to the preparation and the start of the season. A season, which has its highlight – the Home World Championship in Seefeld – which is more than just a childhood dream. Until then I hope to gain in consistency for my jumps.

Wish you all a great autumn,

Michi

One of our highlights in summer season is already over again. At the Skijumpers’ Golf Trophy we meet our our skijumping colleagues from other nations and play a 9-hole golf round together in a very friendly and funny atmosphere. Beside a bit of “competition thinking” it is always great fun to meet the guys beside the hill.

This year the Norges were part of the Trophy as every year and for the first time the Americans / Canadians took part in this special golf tournament too 😉 On the golf round we had a good time together and we had time to talk about some things – and no, not skijumping 😉 Topics like holidays or football are on the agenda here 🙂

It was our third time at the golfclub Zillertal / Uderns and once more the conditions were great again. Basically I like the course there but this time I wasn’t able to get going…

I didn’t really get into my personal rhythm, which is quite important in golf. So summing it up I can say that I didn’t play my best golf but had a great conversation and a really fun round with my flight partner Robert Johansson.

In the end TEAM AUSTRIA didn’t manage to take the trophy once more because the Norges took it for the first time. For sure I would have liked to take the win but that’s sport.
Next year the “cards are reshuffled” and we will be back 😉

For me there are some training courses on the plan the next weeks so that I’m again well prepared for the upcoming season.

I’ll keep you up to date,

in the meantime have a great summer,
yours Michi.