In our interview series "FIS Ski Jumping-Talk" we present interviews with ski jumping athletes and officials. Today: Severin Freund (27).

Severin Freund was the dominating ski jumper last season. He added gold in the large hill competition at the World Championships in Falun and the overall World Cup title to his already impressive collection of trophies. This winter he finished second in the 4-Hills-Tournament and is currently second in the overall World Cup behind Peter Prevc.  

FIS Ski Jumping: Hello Severin, how are you? Are you already in Lahti?

Severin Freund: I'm doing fine. The break after the "Norway-Tour" was not very long. Right now I'm on the way to Finland with the team. I'm already looking forward to Lahti. After Vikersund we were able to return home for a few days. This was good, because the next weeks will be very intense.

FIS Ski Jumping: Are the competitions in Lahti as a final test for the World Championships next year something special?

Freund: It will definitely be interesting. I heard that some changes were made at the hill. So far I always enjoyed being in Lahti, we'll say what I'll say after this weekend.

FIS Ski Jumping: How satisfied are you with this season so far?

Freund: Pretty satisfied. Not everything went according to plan, but I had by far my best 4-Hills-Tournament. After that I had some problems, especially after the crash in Innsbruck. After that I wasn't able to do everything the way I wanted it. Winning a medal in the team event at the Ski Flying World Championships was very important for us and many didn't believe we would be able to achieve that. It was pretty cool. But I was still feeling the after effects of the crash - everything is not that easy, especially when other jumpers are in an outstanding shape. But all in all I can be more than satisfied.

FIS Ski Jumping: Do you still feel pain after the crash?

Freund: First I felt it in the back, a slightly herniated disk was diagnosed. What ever this means (laughs). It seems that this can happen if you had spinal disk surgery before. I don't have any problems with that anymore. Right now the hip is causing some problems. Probably these are the after effects of the tension in the body after the crash. But this is not risky, you have to deal with it and, for example, adjust the inrun position. I can live with that.

FIS Ski Jumping: Are you interested in statistics?

Freund: It depends which ones (laughs).

FIS Ski Jumping: This season you have scored almost 100 points more in the overall World Cup after 18 competitions than at the same point last season.

Freund: Right. Actually it's a really good season, but somebody else is showing outstanding performances. This hasn't happened in the recent years. But that an athlete dominates the season is nothing new. Of course it makes it a bit less exciting, but Peter deserves to be on top. He did a very good job so far and so he's on his way to setting a new record for World Cup points.

FIS Ski Jumping: In Vikersund Peter won although he almost fell. Is this frustrating? Or does it make it easier to handle defeat because he is almost unbeatable?

Freund: Well, this can only happen in ski flying because the distance is a lot more important. He is not unbeatable, he didn't win all the competitions in Vikersund. The situation is a bit different than last year, back then everything was a bit closer. In Falun I won with a lead of 25 points. Sometimes this happens. Peter is doing a lot right, others are struggling a bit. This is a motivation, but it's not frustrating. It would definitely get boring if it remains like that for various years, but I don't think this will happen.

FIS Ski Jumping: You mentioned the record for World Cup points. Do you think Peter can keep this shape until the end of the season?

Freund: I don't even know what the record is exactly, but he can definitely make it. The question is how long one is able to remain in such a shape, he already is for a very long time. If you look at it now it's realistic.

FIS Ski Jumping: Back to you: What are your goals for the rest of the season?

Freund: I want to have a nice final third. Other than in the previous years there's no highlight, like the World Championships or the Olympic Games, but I think this is exciting. Almaty is a new venue, where I have never been before, that's interesting. Then there are venues where I already jumped very well. I want to do well and as a team we don't want to give the Nation's Cup away easily. The Norwegians are very strong at the moment, but in the team competition in Lahti we want to present ourselves better than in Oslo. Then there's the ski flying event in Planica. Last year I couldn't do that well on the hill there. So there are still enough challenges remaining.

FIS Ski Jumping: Is it about fighting for the second place with Slovenia in the Nation's Cup?

Freund: Probably. But everything can happen. A team can always lose the shape and have some weaker competitions. It's not decided yet, but the Norwegians are very strong. We have to give our best and try to achieve some good results. This period of the season is already important for next season because you can get a lot of motivation out of these competitions.

FIS Ski Jumping: Let's assume that Peter Prevc remains in this shape and he will go to Planica as the new overall World Cup winner. The stadium there is already almost sold out, an incredible atmosphere can be expected. Are you looking forward to it?

Freund: Definitely. You are always looking forward to venues of which you know that the atmosphere will be great there. Of course it's even better when you can still win something, but even if the overall World Cup is already decided by then, I'm looking forward to every sold out competition. That's always special.

FIS Ski Jumping: How happy are you that the season is over in a bit over a month?

Freund: It's still okay, I'm still looking forward to the competitions. When the season is over a long period of training will start again. And you train in order to compete. But I will also know what to do after the season.

FIS Ski Jumping: And sun and warmth will also be a nice change after the season.

Freund: Definitely. And it's also good for the next season.

FIS Ski Jumping: Thanks a lot for the interview wand all the best for the rest of the season.

Source: fis-ski.com