“There will be other title events where I can show my potential!”

23-year-old Paul Gerstgraser does have a FIS Nordic World Ski Championships bronze medal from Lahti 2017 to his name already but struggled to follow up with medal-worthy performances in Nordic Combined’s first leagues this winter. Instead, he made the best of a “weaker” season and won the FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup overall. For TUESDAY TALK, he looked back on his season and towards the future.

First of all, congratulations for the Continental Cup overall victory 2018/19. Even though probably performing well on the World Cup was your goal for the past winter, are you still satisfied with this result?

Paul Gerstgraser: I am of course happy about my performance in the Continental Cup. As you said, my goal was of course to perform well on the World Cup level and to be nominated for our home World Championships but this is unfortunately not how it played out for me this winter. I am still happy that I was able to show top results in the COC.

As you mentioned, unfortunately you did not make it to your home World Championships in Seefeld. How did you manage this situation and is this something that might even be used to motivate you in the future?

Gerstgraser: Of course I was disappointed. But I am a young athlete and there will be other title events where I can show my potential.

Which points were not optimal in the last winter and will be worked on over the summer now?

Gerstgraser: I will focus on jumping and cross-country technique just to name the big points. We all have our little “construction areas” here and there which need to be improved. (laughs)

With rank 7 at the World Cup finals in Schonach, the season actually ended on a high note for you. How important was it to finish with this performance?

Gerstgraser: Schonach was a really good end to the season, even though I was not able to improve more positions in the cross-country race anymore. But my performance on the jumping hill was really solid which gives me a lot of hope for the future.

You also won the 30 km Cross-Country Skiing national title after the season ended. How was the experience and will you still focus on Nordic Combined in the future?

Gerstgraser: It was a good experience but I don’t think we should put too much emphasis on this title. Due to the unfortunate happenings during the World Championships in Seefeld, there were three (former) Nordic Combined athletes among the top four of this cross-country race.

The off-season will hopefully offer some chances to recharge the batteries now. How will you spend your spring 2019?

Gerstgraser: I am currently making use of the last days of winter to continue with my endurance training but the rest of the time until the summer training starts again I will spend at home. I am sure I can squeeze some holidays in there as well (smiles).