The Austrian men's eight with new
coxswain - OSV / Kotlaba
This week the Austrian team has its first training
camp of the summer, which is also the first training
camp with the new head coach Heinz Kuttin.
Not only ski jumping in Villach is on the schedule
for the athletes during the days in Carinthia, in
Faak am See the jumpers and the coaching staff also
compete in various different sports, like soccer,
beach volleyball, tennis and rowing.
"We are having a very good training camp with
lots of different aspects. The goal this week is
to build team spirit, so we all move in the same
direction, on and off the hill. Ski jumping is not
most important during this camp, but it is important
to get the feeling for the hill", told Heinz
Kuttin.
For the jumpers, this training camp is a good start
of the summer training. "It is nice to get
the chance to spend more time with everybody. And
working with the new coach has also been a lot of
fun so far", said youngster Thomas Diethart,
for whom it is the first summer preparation with
the national team.
Morgenstern made no final decision yet
Thomas Morgenstern is also taking part in this camp,
but in contrast to his teammates he did not start
jumping again so far. "It is difficult to say
when I'll be jumping again. For me it's most important
that I get back in a physical shape in which it
makes sense to return to the hill again. Late June
seems to be a realistic goal, then I would be able
to go to the training camp in Kuopio with the team.
I will take my time, so I'll be well prepared when
I'm back on the hill."
During the course of the summer, the 27-year-old
then wants to make a decision whether he will continue
his career or not. "When I don't feel any pain
and feel fit and I will start jumping again. Then
I will have to see how it goes. What about the fear?
Can I get it out of my head with a few jumps or
can I accept it the way it is. In order to make
a definite decision I need jumps in summer. I'm
fit, I'll give my best, but whether it will all
go the way I want it to, is still written in the
stars."
The team will stay in Faak am See until Friday.
Next week the athletes train in the different training
centers, after that the next training camp will
be held in Predazzo.