Ski: Felix Neureuther weathered against Ski Association FIS

The criticism of the parallel races does not stop. Now the 16-time World Cup winner Felix Neureuther (35) has a heavy verbal gun. In an interview with the “Krone” he rumbles: “The fact that this is part of the World Cup is the greatest nonsense ever. It has nothing to do with the skiing that we love. Just push, push, push and one or two transitions. We’re not snowboarders. »

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“The art of moving on these narrow things” must be brought back into focus. The ski association FIS must act. His counter-proposal: «Ten runs, ten giant slalom runs, ten slaloms. You’ll see, then a whole new form of skiers will develop again! »

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The races are to be held at the “hot traditional locations”: “Kitz, Schladming, Garmisch, Bormio, St. Moritz, Wengen, Beaver Creek. Friday night slalom, Saturday departure, Sunday giant slalom. » But what if there is no ski spectacle for a weekend? “All the better. Then people’s anticipation increases! Maybe I see that too radically, okay. But as it is now, the whole thing has no value. »

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Plaschy and Pinturault also poison

Neureuther is by no means the only one who cannot win anything from the parallel races. SRF expert Didier Plaschy is particularly annoyed by their weighting, as he explains on Sunday as part of the parallel giant in Chamonix (Fr): “This discipline only occurs twice in winter. There is even a ball to be won. How much does an athlete have to invest there? There are too many parables that are unclear. »

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Yes, even the winner of this crystal ball, Loic Meillard (23), finds critical words: «I’d rather have one in slalom or giant slalom. The ball is said to be the best of the whole season. But with only two races that doesn’t make much sense. » And Justin Murisier asks on Facebook: “Is this the future of our sport?” He gets the answer from his Swiss teammates Meillard and Yule, who post a thumbs down from the numerous negative comments.

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On Sunday evening, Alexis Pinturault (28) had given free rein to his frustration with the highly controversial discipline. After failing in the round of 16, he wrote on Twitter: «« Today I feel like I’m being cheated on. We athletes are seen more as characters in a show than as athletes. Since when has happiness in sport been more important than performance? » It should not have been the last sharp words in the direction of FIS.

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The parallel event does not go down well with TV viewers either. Despite the Swiss double victory, only 270,000 spectators watched the race on SRF2 on Sunday, which corresponds to a market share of only 48 percent. For comparison: the day before, as Daniel Yule as half-time leader in the second round of the slalom climbed, 381,000 (market share 70.1 percent) cheered in their living rooms.

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There are two parallel events on the program this season. A women’s slalom in Are on March 12th and a team competition on March 21st with 400 World Cup points to be won. (Sag / leo)

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