“It’s not enough to ski jump well only!”

It was one of spring’s biggest news: medal-decorated German ski jumper Svenja Würth decided to switch disciplines and solely focus on Nordic Combined for the upcoming season. For TUESDAY TALK, she revisits the main reasons for her decision, talks about challenges and changed training plans and what starting in the at the Continental Cup in Eisenerz last season taught her.

You have made a name for yourself as a successful ski jumper in the past years. What were the decisive factors for you to make this change to Nordic Combined now?

Svenja Würth: I often had to deal with injuries in my Ski Jumping career, so I’ve had much time to think about things. In parallel, I have followed the development of Women’s Nordic Combined.

When I was seven years old, I started winter sports by doing Nordic Combined but then had to decide between ski jumping and cross-country skiing quite early. There was no platform for women in Nordic Combined back in the days. So I went with Ski Jumping. I am already 26 years old but the platform is here now and big strides are still being made. I am very curious and like challenges, so I see this as a big chance for me.

Your “Nordic Combined experiment” at the Continental Cup in Eisenerz (AUT) did not go exactly as planned with a “Did not finish” in the cross-country race. Which learnings did you take from this weekend?

Würth: Leisure cross-country skiing is one thing, to ski a race is a whole other ball game! (laughs)

Of course, I expected a different outcome but my entire training and the focal point was directed on ski jumping last season, as I was competing on the World Cup. This is why my little side trip to Nordic Combined was an experiment for me which I did out of the Ski Jumping competition season, without much preparation… add a whole lot of missing race experience to that and then yes, what you take away at first is disappointment.

Afterwards, I had the realisation that it would be really hard to compete in Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined at the same time and that I have to focus on one discipline only. In addition, it was also really interesting to see how a Nordic Combined competition works and if I can imagine myself doing this. Maybe this is also where my ambition and drive kicked, because this experiment went a so badly. (laughs) It’s not enough to ski jump well only!

In how far is your training different, now that you are a Nordic Combined athlete?

Würth: My training plans look completely different now, much fuller and with some content which is completely new to me. In addition, I have new coaches. It was quite a change at the beginning but I am slowly getting into things. It is also nice mentally to move out of the system of past years and to try new things. The most important thing: I am really having fun!

What are you looking forward to most in the upcoming summer and winter?

Würth: That’s actually had to say. I am looking forward to everything I will be facing.

Which goals have you set for yourself for your first Nordic Combined winter?

Würth: That’s also hard to say right now. I have many very small goals on the road to the season start. I still have to see how the development goes and where I will land in the end. For sure, we do have a home World Championship in Oberstdorf and this is in the back of my head. But there is a whole lot of work waiting for me until we get there.