Do want to know more about our Telemark Athletes? Then you are on the right place! Each week in Summer we introduce one athlete of the Telemark family.

This Week: Raphael Mahlknecht, Italy

First Name: Raphael

Last Name: Mahlknecht

Birthdate: 05.09.2001

Language: German, Italian, English

Material: Nordica, Crispi, Ortema

Sponsors: Luis Trenke, Nakes Optics

Profession: Student of italian sport school

Hobbies: Eating well, biking, hiking, golf and gym

Motto: Life is too short for a fixed binding, as well as for bad clothes!

Why do you Telemark? Because I saw it 6 years ago when I was 12 years old on my home slopes on the Seiser Alm. I tried it and I liked it immediately, especially the variety. So I slid step by step into the races. The first races were the final race and the blue ribbon of the Seiser Alm. Then I took part in national races and now in FIS races, World Cups and World Championships.

What is your favorite Telemark discipline? The Parallel Sprint, because it is a real fight between the racers and therefore very interesting for the participants and especially for the spectators.

How often do you train per Week? Whats your favorite Training? I train six times a week. In the winter I make regulariy telemark, cross-country skiing and going to the gym. In summer I spend a lot of time on the nduro or road bike, in the gym, playing golf, swimming and ski jumping. In spring and autumn i prepare myself for the coming seasons with national teams on glaciers. My favourite training is, of course, telemarking in the gates.

What was the best experience of your career so far? I have gained a lot of experience at the World Championships Rjukan in Norway, where my best result was 13th place in the Classic. But I gained the most experience in my first World Cup season.

Whats your favorite race on the World Cup Calendar? My favorite World Cup race was also my first World Cup race. It was the opening of the Telemark World Cup season 2017/2018 on the Hintertuxer Gletscher.

Tell us something about you? After 5 years in elementary school, 3 years in secondary school and 3 years in a business school with a specialization in sports in Bolzano, now I am attending the 4th class. My goal is to get the Matura, which takes place in 5th class.

Last but not least..what do you wish for the Future? I wish that I can increase my performance every season and to remain free of injuries.

Stay tuned and don’t forget to like, subscribe and hit the bell if you want to be kept up to date with all our latest content!