The ski crossers start the World Championship season in Val Thorens
Image: Keystone
Alex Fiva sets the tone for the Swiss men even at the age of 39
Image: Keystone
Fanny Smith breaks new ground to return to her old strength
Image: Keystone
Olympic champion Ryan Regez is almost back to 2022 level in terms of fitness
Image: Keystone
Talina Gantenbein is pain-free again after problems with her false leg
Image: Keystone
Saskja Lack (in red) made a big leap in preparation and could spring a surprise or two
Image: Keystone
The ski crossers start the World Championship season in Val Thorens
Image: Keystone
Alex Fiva sets the tone for the Swiss men even at the age of 39
Image: Keystone
Fanny Smith breaks new ground to return to her old strength
Image: Keystone
Olympic champion Ryan Regez is almost back to 2022 level in terms of fitness
Image: Keystone
Talina Gantenbein is pain-free again after problems with her false leg
Image: Keystone
Saskja Lack (in red) made a big leap in preparation and could spring a surprise or two
Image: Keystone
The ski crossers start the season in Val Thorens with the home World Championships. Former champion Alex Fiva is now also fast in training and a woman from Zurich amazes in St. Moritz. The Swiss in the team check.
The men, who are spoiled for success with Olympic heroes Ryan Regez (gold in 2022) and Alex Fiva (silver), can look back on two difficult years. In 2022/23, Jonas Lenherr was the best Swiss in the overall World Cup in ninth place, and in 2023/24 no one would have made it into the top ten without Fiva's strong comeback after a cruciate ligament rupture. Three months before the home World Championships in St. Moritz and less than a year and a half before the next Olympic races in Livigno near the Swiss border, things are looking up again.
Four Swiss athletes will be able to compete at their home World Championships in March. In the World Cup, the aspirants will also have to prove themselves against internal competition, with 2018 Olympic silver medallist Marc Bischofberger first having to earn his place in the World Cup via an internal qualification. In terms of his qualities, Jonas Lenherr is a World Cup contender, but the 35-year-old from St. Gallen will miss the start of the season. He broke his ankle in March and an infection after the screws were removed is now slowing him down again.
The women impressed in the last season, which was marked by prominent retirements, with five riders in the top 15. Two of them are now out: Sixtine Cousin, who celebrated her first World Cup victory in San Candido a year ago, will miss the entire season due to a torn cruciate ligament, while Margaux Dumont, who came third on the Reiteralm in February, will miss half the season due to a torn cruciate ligament. The omens are good for Fanny Smith, Talina Gantenbein and Saskja Lack. However, with Sandra Näslund regaining her strength and Germany's Daniela Maier recovering from an ankle injury, as well as a number of Canadians returning, the international competition will be fiercer again in 2024/25.
Alex Fiva: Not a bit tired of old age
Alex Fiva will be 39 years old in January. Apart from her speed at the start, there has been no sign of any decline so far. On the contrary, says national coach Enrico Vetsch: "Alex is fully fit. He's had a great fall, is without any complaints and has virtually played with the opponents in training. He's a phenomenon and a stroke of luck for our team in all respects." Fiva himself is also amazed: "It almost worries me that I'm now also fast in training. That's unusual."
Fiva's hamstring, the ischiocrural muscles in the back of his thigh, is no longer the same as it was before the cruciate ligament rupture. Otherwise, the 2021 world champion no longer feels anything from the knee injury. The back problems that have been bothering him for some time are also not an issue at the moment. The 13-time World Cup winner is even considering riding without a support harness again after a long time. The only restriction for a few weeks now: A persistent cold.
Fiva says he will continue for "a maximum of two more seasons". The 2026 Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina are an incentive - "but only if I can see this winter that I can still keep up".
Fanny Smith: Back to her old strength
New, tried-and-tested equipment and special units with the Alpines: Fanny Smith drew the consequences after a complicated winter. She switched from Völkl back to her former ski supplier Stöckli and used the free time for a three-week training camp with the alpine giant slalom racers in Argentina. As a ski cross soloist, she was (too) busy with testing and equipment issues at Völkl. Back at Stöckli, she was able to work intensively on her technique again.
Enrico Vetsch has observed good progress and speaks of a "win-win situation". Smith's feedback to him: "She was thrilled. The detour did her good."
Ryan Regez: Out of the pandemic half-year
Last season was one to forget for Ryan Regez. His comeback from a cruciate ligament rupture was slow and mental problems made his return difficult. Vetsch speaks of an "epidemic half-year".
Now the overall World Cup and Olympic champion from 2022 is back. The performance data from August is promising: "Regez was close to his top values of the season before the 2022 Olympics" during the tests in August, says Vetsch. The only drawback: "He still lacks a bit of confidence in bad weather and on rough slopes with lots of bumps."
Talina Gantenbein: The next step
Shin problems caused the 26-year-old from the Engadin to struggle last season and into the fall. A new, customized ski boot with better pressure distribution solved the problem. Talina Gantenbein is now skiing pain-free again and is ready to take the next step towards becoming a regular podium skier. The St. Moritz native has made it into the top three six times since 2020, but she is still waiting for her first victory. Will she make it to the World Championships on her own doorstep this winter?
Vetsch's assessment: "She has 'brutal' potential that she hasn't yet been able to fully exploit. We're not just expecting a podium finish, but a step towards becoming a consistent final athlete."
Saskja Lack: Over the waves to the surprise
Watch out for the former BMX rider! Saskja Lack amazed with a "spun fall". That's how Enrico Vetsch describes Lack's outstanding performances in preparation. In St. Moritz in particular, the 24-year-old from Zurich shone with best times.
Lack, who was also an ambitious BMX racer until 2018, was the second-best Swiss athlete in the previous season thanks to her first two podium finishes and 7th place in the overall World Cup. According to Vetsch, she has now taken another big step forward. She still needs to improve her skiing technique, but Lack can generate speed over the waves - of which there are quite a few on the World Cup course in St. Moritz - like no other. Will she be the surprise skier of the World Championship season?
