For the third year in a row, Eric Frenzel continues to be the Nordic Combined athlete all others have to measure up to. Of course, we checked in with the 26-year-old after his third consecutive overall World Cup victory to find out how the off-season is treating him, how he views the development during the last winter and if his son is actually following in his footsteps.

What have you been up to since the season ended? Hopefully you were able to enjoy some peace and quiet?

Eric Frenzel: I mainly spent time with my family. Right after the season, my wife and me went to Seefeld to cash in the holiday that I won as the TRIPLE champion. Over the Easter days, we took our son skiing in South Tyrol. Of course, I also had some press and sponsor commitments but all I all, I was able to relax pretty well.

This year, we are able to have this World Cup overall winner interview for the third time in a row. What was different about winning this year?

Frenzel: The biggest difference was that this overall victory came very unexpectedly. I only wanted to focus on the World Championships because of all the stress in the past year and my reduced training volumes. But as it often is in life: it turns out in a different way than you think it will.

With Jason Lamy Chappuis, one of Nordic Combined’s big superstars has ended his career. He also managed to win the overall World Cup three times in a row. Will you miss him as a strong opponent and maybe also as a person in the next winters?

Frenzel: Yes, you can definitely say that Jason put his stamp on the Nordic Combined sport in the last couple of years with his successes. Next to that, he has a great personality. He was always very fair, friendly and respected everybody’s performances.

Looking back on the last season, it can be said that you had great successes with the TRIPLE win and the overall World Cup victory but also the distance to the pursuers became smaller. You had to go home from the World Championships in Falun without an individual medal. How do you assess this development?

Frenzel: It is definitely the case that a lot of the other athletes have made a big step forward in the last winter and the world elite closed ranks. If is very true for us in Nordic Combind that you go backwards if you don’t go forward. I do hope that it will stay as close and exciting as it is now in the upcoming years. Competition is good for business!

We don’t have any title event coming up in the next season, instead, there will be a lot of World Cups and the TRIPLE as the highlight. Do you approach such a season in a different way than others?

Frenzel: Basically no, you do have to train for it in the same way as you train for a winter with title events. But still, you can use a season like this to do the groundwork for the three title events to come.

The next stop for the international Nordic Combined elite will be the Summer Grand Prix Opening in Oberwiesenthal in August. As it is your hometown, it is probably a very special moment each year?

Frenzel: Definitely. Every athlete likes to compete where he grew up and where he can profit from the home field advantage. I am always happy to have friends and family who might not all be able to go to other competitions during the winter time come along and support me.

Since you posted a picture of you and your son doing homework together for school and university, we know that this is also something that you are working on. Will you make time to catch up with your studies now? And what about your son: Is he also active on skis or does he like to di something completely different?

Frenzel: I will definitely use some time to get further along in my studies, if my training schedule is allowing it. Considering my son, yes he does spend a lot of time on skis but I would say he is an especially enthusiastic football player. (laughs)