After the season is before the season

From ski touring instead of racing to lecture halls instead of the start gate – with some work on my family’s farm in between: when the World Cup season ends, a very different time of year begins for me. But things are far from slowing down. Just a few weeks after the final races, preparations for the next winter are already underway.

When the racing season slowly winds down

My season isn’t quite over after the final World Cup race. Until around mid-April, the schedule usually still includes training sessions, the Swiss Championships and various sponsor ski days with Swiss-Ski. At the same time, things gradually become a little calmer after the intense winter months. There is also time to raise a glass to the past season, celebrate successes and talk about things that have nothing to do with hundredths of a second, training plans or ski racing.

After the last days on snow in mid-April, I usually take a training break of around two weeks. Putting my feet up, however, is only partly what that means for me. While other athletes deliberately use this time to fully recover, I tend to focus on my studies and work. Alongside my sporting career, I study Agricultural Sciences at ETH Zurich, so these weeks are ideal for catching up on coursework, preparing for exams or completing my internship on a dairy farm.

The Ursern Valley becomes my training ground

At the beginning of May, preparations for the coming season are already underway again. At this stage, it’s not yet about setting fast times or finding the perfect racing line. The initial focus is on endurance, strength and building a solid foundation.

Strength training is an integral part of my preparation for the next racing season, even in summer.

I do a large part of my endurance training on ski tours. And I could hardly ask for a better place: with the mountains of the Ursern Valley right on my doorstep, my home becomes my training ground. While spring has long since arrived elsewhere, I can still spend many hours here on my touring skis. For me, it’s one of the best ways to train – being outdoors while laying the foundations for the next winter at the same time.

The mountains of the Ursern Valley are both my home and my training ground.

Three intense weeks, followed by a quieter one

My summer follows a clear structure: three intensive weeks of training are followed by a slightly easier week. For the past two years, my training plan has also included a deliberately scheduled break from skiing until mid-July. After a long winter, it feels good to put the skis aside for a while.

I use this time to enjoy hobbies such as climbing and slacklining and to help out on the family farm. This contrast to competitive sport is incredibly important to me. Spending time outdoors, lending a hand on the farm and doing activities where sporting performance isn’t always the main focus helps me switch off mentally and recharge my batteries.

When the skiing season is over, there’s more time for other passions – such as climbing.

And when my body needs a break, I’m happy to slow things down a little – for example with a visit to the sauna or wellness area.

Between training and ETH

Things become particularly challenging when training and studying demand a lot of time at the same time. The main exam periods at ETH usually take place in August – exactly when my training is also intensive.

A typical day during an intensive training week? It starts with a walk with my dogs. Then I have a substantial breakfast and spend the first few hours at my desk. This is followed by my first training session, lunch and then it’s back to studying. Later, training session number two is on the schedule. And if the weather and workload allow, I spend another hour or two helping out on my parents’ farm in the evening. There isn’t much downtime on days like these.

Lending a hand on the family farm.

Fortunately, things are a little more relaxed this year. I’ve completed all my exams and am currently working on my bachelor’s thesis. This gives me a little more flexibility to find a good balance between training, studying and recovery while preparing for the coming winter season.

Finally, snow under my skis again

By mid-July, the moment I’ve been waiting for finally arrives: it’s time to get back on my skis. I usually make my first turns of the new season on the glaciers in Zermatt and Saas-Fee. Even though I’ve spent countless days on skis, this moment still feels special every year. After several months away from skiing, it simply feels great to have snow under my skis again and start working on my technique.

Back on the snow – a moment I particularly look forward to every year after the summer break.

I’m slightly less enthusiastic about another regular feature of my summer programme: training camp in an indoor ski hall. To be honest, it takes quite a bit of motivation every time. I much prefer skiing outdoors in nature – surrounded by mountains, fresh air and changing conditions. By comparison, the indoor ski hall can sometimes feel a little monotonous.

From a sporting perspective, however, that is precisely where its big advantage lies. The consistent conditions make it possible to work very specifically on technical elements. I can repeat movements again and again, adjust details and refine sequences. Sometimes you simply have to do things that aren’t necessarily the most enjoyable if they help you improve as an athlete. And every year, I ultimately benefit from these training sessions.

The next winter is getting closer

With the first training sessions on snow, preparations for winter begin to gather pace. The sessions become more specific, the intensity increases and the focus gradually shifts towards the coming racing season.

Behind me are months full of contrasts – ski touring and strength training, ETH and farming, climbing and indoor skiing, intensive training days and deliberate recovery. And that variety is exactly what I need. When winter is just around the corner again, I look forward to my everyday life increasingly revolving around what I love most: skiing.