Feuz’ Lauberhorn memories – When lunch was eaten in front of the TV – Sport

From small fans to repeat offenders: Beat Feuz has varied memories of the Lauberhorn.

Back then, the youngster Beat Feuz had to walk to school around one kilometer – including the ski lift. At 11:45 a.m. the school bell rang, at 12:15 p.m. the race started – do the math! Or to put it another way: Little Beat had to hurry if he wanted to follow the Lauberhorn descent on TV as a young ski fan.

“As soon as I got home, the television was turned on. Lunch also took place in front of the screen,” Feuz recalls of his childhood. Even as a little boy, he was fascinated by the longest descent in the world.

First the disappointment, then the success

When the Schangnau native was finally able to tackle a World Cup downhill run for the first time in front of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in 2010, the young skier was disappointed after more than two minutes: he finished 42nd with a small starting field the bitter reality. “I had to go downstairs then. When I reached the finish, it was clear to me: I will not befriend this Lauberhorn,” Feuz summarizes his feelings at the time.

But from the second year things went uphill for the Bernese, also at Wengen. “I didn’t change much, but from then on the results were right,” says Feuz. And if the results were correct. In 2012, the “Kugelblitz” achieved its first of three victories on the Lauberhorn. Surprising, as he himself has to admit: “Back then, the Swiss fans were hoping for Didier Cuche to win because they knew he wouldn’t be returning to the Lauberhorn too often and that this triumph was still missing in his repertoire. I then snatched the win from him – even if he didn’t finish second.”

It then took 6 years until the second triumph in Wengen. «The Lauberhorn downhill 2018 was a brilliant race for me. I went onto the slopes with start number 1. With number 3 came Aksel Lund Svindal, who had been my biggest competitor that season. When he was just behind me at the finish, I knew: That was a strong ride. »

In 2020 the race started from the Hundschopf, which did not trigger any storms of enthusiasm at Feuz. “I’m actually less comfortable with that if you don’t drive the full distance,” explains the 35-year-old. “Nevertheless, I was able to show a strong race.” With Dominik Paris, he was also able to defeat his biggest opponent of that season in Wengen. As different as the successes were, all three triumphs have something in common. “Every victory on the Lauberhorn is special,” admits Feuz with a laugh.

The final performance follows this weekend in Wengen. Because a week later in Kitzbühel, the outstanding career of the Emmental speed specialist comes to an end.