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„Winning the Continental Cup is a big step for me!“
The Austrian team has been dominating the Continental Cup for the past few years and so the battle for the victory is usually an internal one. This was no different this year but that 21-year-old Martin Fritz would emerge as the final winner might be a slight surprise to some. Known as a rather stronger jumper but with difficulties on the track, Fritz developed into more of an allrounder this winter, improving his performances on the shorter skis as well. fis-ski.com checked in with the resident of Ramsau am Dachstein on how he views his best winter so far.
Martin Fritz, winner of the 2015/16 COC overall standings. What’s your bottom-line after the season?
Martin Fritz: The winter was great. I did not start too great in the USA, though, I had some trouble with my cross-country skiing and also in the jumping part but I kept improving throughout the winter. I put in some very good training efforts. I trained more in the course of the summer compared to the previous years which certainly influenced my jumping performance.
My jumping did not work at all in the summer but thank god I was able to turn this around. Now I have gotten really stable in my jumping and I really improved my skiing. I think this is a recipe for success as it makes up a good Nordic Combined athlete.
How important is winning the COC overall to you?
Fritz: I am quite young still, so for me this is a big step. I am extremely happy that I managed to win this. Before the season, the thought of winning the COC overall did not even cross my mind, it was quite inconceivable. The Norwegians, the Germans and also especially my own teammates are great guys and very strong. So I am even more please to be standing on the very top of this podium.
What was your favourite moment of the past season?
Fritz: I had two great ones: The World Cup in Val di Fiemme when I held rank four on the second lap and noticed that I can stay with this speed until the finish… and it was enough for rank ten in the end.
The other one was in Chaux-Neuve which was just a perfect day. I had a talk with my coach the day before and it gave me something of a laid-back attitude so that I was able to show a perfect jump. When I heard I won the jumping round with almost a minute to the third guy, I felt great, really dominating. I was able to leave my German colleague behind and when my teammate Harry Lemmerer also was not able to catch up, I just went faster and faster and just enjoyed the race. This was pretty much the nicest moment of my entire career so far.
How does it feel to be a part of such a strong team as the Austrian with a lot of young athletes competing for the World Cup slots. Does is push you or is it also really hard to battle for the start places?
Fritz: It is great to be in such a big and strong team because the organisation of it and the entire service sector is just great.
In terms of getting a spot on the World Cup team, yes that’s always really hard in Austria. I showed a good performance throughout winter but in every starting quota, some other of my fellow young athletes was better than me and so for sure I was sad whenever I was not picked. But there’s just one answer to this situation: I will train a little harder and hopefully it will not come to this question at all next year.
Thinking about the next winter, what are your goals now?
Fritz: The biggest goal are the World Championships in Lahti for me. I will give everything for being allowed to go there. I will of course have to extend my training volumes even more in the summer and also improve a little bit more in the jumping part but if I do that, I think it’s possible.
What is next for you now? Rest and relaxation on the horizon?
Fritz: Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of time for holidays now. At the moment I am making the most of the snow that is still there and then I will get started on my A-levels. I hope I will manage to steal a week of holidays later in summer.
Source: fis-ski.com
Martin Fritz, winner of the 2015/16 COC overall standings. What’s your bottom-line after the season?
Martin Fritz: The winter was great. I did not start too great in the USA, though, I had some trouble with my cross-country skiing and also in the jumping part but I kept improving throughout the winter. I put in some very good training efforts. I trained more in the course of the summer compared to the previous years which certainly influenced my jumping performance.
My jumping did not work at all in the summer but thank god I was able to turn this around. Now I have gotten really stable in my jumping and I really improved my skiing. I think this is a recipe for success as it makes up a good Nordic Combined athlete.
How important is winning the COC overall to you?
Fritz: I am quite young still, so for me this is a big step. I am extremely happy that I managed to win this. Before the season, the thought of winning the COC overall did not even cross my mind, it was quite inconceivable. The Norwegians, the Germans and also especially my own teammates are great guys and very strong. So I am even more please to be standing on the very top of this podium.
What was your favourite moment of the past season?
Fritz: I had two great ones: The World Cup in Val di Fiemme when I held rank four on the second lap and noticed that I can stay with this speed until the finish… and it was enough for rank ten in the end.
The other one was in Chaux-Neuve which was just a perfect day. I had a talk with my coach the day before and it gave me something of a laid-back attitude so that I was able to show a perfect jump. When I heard I won the jumping round with almost a minute to the third guy, I felt great, really dominating. I was able to leave my German colleague behind and when my teammate Harry Lemmerer also was not able to catch up, I just went faster and faster and just enjoyed the race. This was pretty much the nicest moment of my entire career so far.
How does it feel to be a part of such a strong team as the Austrian with a lot of young athletes competing for the World Cup slots. Does is push you or is it also really hard to battle for the start places?
Fritz: It is great to be in such a big and strong team because the organisation of it and the entire service sector is just great.
In terms of getting a spot on the World Cup team, yes that’s always really hard in Austria. I showed a good performance throughout winter but in every starting quota, some other of my fellow young athletes was better than me and so for sure I was sad whenever I was not picked. But there’s just one answer to this situation: I will train a little harder and hopefully it will not come to this question at all next year.
Thinking about the next winter, what are your goals now?
Fritz: The biggest goal are the World Championships in Lahti for me. I will give everything for being allowed to go there. I will of course have to extend my training volumes even more in the summer and also improve a little bit more in the jumping part but if I do that, I think it’s possible.
What is next for you now? Rest and relaxation on the horizon?
Fritz: Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of time for holidays now. At the moment I am making the most of the snow that is still there and then I will get started on my A-levels. I hope I will manage to steal a week of holidays later in summer.
Source: fis-ski.com
