Swiss-Ski choose new coach

Frehsner says he has achieved all he can with the Austrian team Keystone Archive

The Swiss skiing association has named Austrian trainer Karl Frehsner as the new head coach of Switzerland's men's team.

Swiss-Ski confirmed media reports that the 62-year-old, who formerly headed Austria’s women’s team, would be taking up the position from May 1 after deciding not to extend his contract with the Austrian association.

Frehsner’s appointment was announced at a media conference in the eastern spa town of Bad Ragaz on Wednesday.

Second spell in charge

The Austrian trainer is no stranger to the Swiss association having previously held the head coach position during the 1980s, when Switzerland celebrated some of their strongest ever performances.

Despite falling out with association officials during the 1991 world championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Frehsner has always maintained an interest in the Swiss skiing scene and has also kept his home in Switzerland.

“I have achieved everything I can with (the Austrian team),” said Frehsner on Tuesday after confirming his departure from the current superpower of the skiing world.

Draw closer

Now the Swiss association will be hoping Frehsner can help Switzerland’s skiers draw closer to the success of their Austrian neighbours and fierce rivals.

“We wanted to appoint someone quickly,” Swiss-Ski president Duri Bezzola told swissinfo on Wednesday, “because our preparations are already underway for the 2003 world championship season. We also needed someone with great experience and someone who knew our association – that is why we have chosen Karl Frehsner.”

Having helped the Swiss to win 27 Olympic and world championship medals during his previous stint in charge of the team before going on to help the Austrians win a further 17, Frehsner’s experience is certainly not in doubt.

Age concern?

The decision to appoint a man in the autumn of his professional career to such a high-profile position has raised some eyebrows though.

“I think older people can still achieve some great results,” insisted Bezzola, “but I certainly don’t expect this to be a long-term job for Frehsner. It is a solution, however, for the next few years – perhaps up until (the 2006 Winter Olympics in) Turin. In the meantime he will be able to help bring on a successor, possibly from among the younger coaches at the association.”

Frehsner is set to replace fellow Austrian Dieter Bartsch who resigned as head coach during last month’s Winter Olympics. Bartsch had provisionally agreed to extend his contract just a few weeks earlier only to change his mind in Salt Lake City, where he cited personal differences with Swiss-Ski director Jean-Daniel Mudry.

by Mark Ledsom, Bad Ragaz