Andreas Fischle has had a fluent passage from being an active snowboarder to becoming a coach.

The 24-year-old from Stuttgart, Germany who has been competing in 16 snowboard cross World Cup races since December 2010 with a 20th rank earned in front of a stellar home crowd at last season's Feldberg sprint event, has officially retired and taken over the position as coach at his federations base camp in Oberstdorf.

Fischle follows Bernhard Loer who will be responsible for all young SBX talents in the Allgau region from autumn on.

As a result, a circle has been completed for the former Snowboard Germany racer who has been representing his home country at the 2008 junior world championships.

“It wasn't any easy decision to make. I'm still young, and I have still seen some potential for an ongoing career as a racer. But it gets a lot easier if you know that you will stick to your guns by remaining in the sport which has played such a great role in my life.”

Especially as becoming a coach has always been part of the plan.

“I was always hoping to become a trainer once.”

And his wish came true by taking over responsibility for the youngest talents in Germany.

And while Fischle is pleased with the decision, also his federation is happy about the coup.

“We are happy to welcome another former athlete to our staff who will definitely bring in a lot of important and fruitful experience which will help develop our up-and-coming snowboard cross racers,” said Snowboard Germany Sporting Director Stefan Knirsch.

Source: fis-ski.com