Why Salzburg’s ski clubs have many more members than the association itself – using the example of the Anna Veith Heimatverein Hallein.
At the start of the World Cup winter, the empire struck back! For Salzburg’s offspring, Roland Leitinger’s second place in Sölden should be an incentive. Like the successes of a Marcel Hirscher or an Anna Veith a few years ago.
But it’s not all as bliss in the Salzburg Ski Association as it seemed after the election of President Bartl Gensbichler in September. He was unanimously re-elected – but only by the clubs that came. Many preferred to stay away. Maybe because they don’t agree with all developments.
Such as SK Hallein, to which Veith, Thomas Stangassinger, belongs to another Olympic champion. There are only 66 members registered with the association. “But we have almost 700, including 200 children,” says chairman Walter Alber. This should be an alarm signal for the SLSV.
Because the fewer members there are in the association, the less voting weight the SLSV has in the ÖSV. A sore point that Gensbichler has often addressed. The number of members has fallen in the last decade from over 16,000 to just under 14,000.
“Associations are the basis”
But Gensbichler sees a potential of 20,000 to 30,000 in Salzburg. If you apply the Hallein example to other clubs, that’s realistic. “We have to report those who drive races. I don’t encourage the others to do so, it costs more and doesn’t bring any additional benefit, ”says Alber. “There is little support from the association, why should we make sure that there are more members?” The Pongau district officer Michael Ellmer says: “The association should remember that the associations are the basis. It’s not about numbers, but about getting children to ski. “
That depends a lot on your own initiative – such as by Ellmer or Alber, who offers a comprehensive annual offer for € 400 with its ski competence center for kids. “We are on the road 200 days a year.” He would like the association (not necessarily referring to the president) to appreciate him more. Like maybe other clubs too.