Alpine skiing in Bulgaria – unused opportunities

published on 2/3/10 2:50 PM

Photo: BGNES

On February 27 at the Olympic slalom competition, Austrian Killian Albrecht will once again race for Bulgaria. The 36-year-old skier has been competing for Bulgaria for a fifth season. The Olympic slalom will be his last official start after 16 years dedicated to alpine skiing.

Despite his good achievements, including a fourth place at the slalom competition during the Winter Olympic Games in 2002, Albrecht was dropped from the competitive Austrian team. Famous Austrian skier Marc Girardelli, who have been a long-term adviser of the Bulgarian Ski Federation advised Albrecht to join the Bulgarian team. Killian Albrecht has been competing for Bulgaria since 2006 and hopes to finish among the first ten in his last competition – the slalom race in Canada.

“The results at the Olympic Games are always a bit surprising,” Mr Albrecht says. “That is why I have ambitious goals. I think I can finish among the first ten under the condition I am healthy.”

Killian Albrecht is known for his flair, which he transfers to the other skiers of Bulgarian team. However, the legendary Bulgarian skier Petar Popangelov says there is no Bulgarian skier yet to repeat the success he had in the 70s and 80s. During that time Popangelov was always among the first ten slalom racers, won gold medals, and placed 6th at two successive Winter Olympic Games – in Lake Placid 1980 and Saraevo 1984.

“I don’t think a successor will emerge in the near future,” Popangelov says. The Bulgarian federation does a good job. There are sponsors and training camps but Bulgaria has not had a world-class ski coach since my father. We recently hired two Slovene coaches and I hope the young Bulgarian skiers will be successful. The foundations have been laid but it is still hard to succeed.”

More than 20 years have passed since the glorious time of Petar Popangelov. These were difficult years for Bulgaria, marked by an almost permanent economic crisis. Alpine skiing is an expensive sport and big investments are needed. But financial difficulties are a feeble excuse for Mr Popangelov.

“In Bulgaria there are difficulties in all spheres of life and not only sports,” he says. “There is no economic sector in Bulgaria that is developed similarly to those in the European countries. The mentality and the way people work are different. It all matters. In the past Bulgaria invested a lot of money in sports and people had a different way of thinking. There were whole generations that lived for the sport.”

Five-time winner of the World Ski Cup, Marc Girardelli, shares Popangelov’s opinion. Mr Girardelli has long been adviser of the Bulgarian Ski Federation and is well acquainted with the work of the Bulgarian ski team.

“Despite the efforts of the federation, there are difficulties,” he says. “We need to wait for the next generation of skiers. We have to work professionally with today’s 12 or 13 years old boys and girls in order to hope for future success. Skiing requires serious and long-term efforts, as well as support from the state.”

This is proved by the experience of Austria and Switzerland. Killian Albrecht, who may join the Bulgarian Ski Federation after the end of his sport career, also confirms this fact. “The work must start with the children and the ski federation knows this. A lot of work and patience is required. In order for a skier to be on the winners’ podium, at least 10 years of intensive work are required. Of course, there are some extremely talented skiers but in Austria where skiing is a national sport, such talents emerge once in 5-6 years. In Bulgaria this happens once in 30 years.”

English: Alexander Markov

По публикацията работи: Vesela Vladkova

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Share

Alpine skiing in Bulgaria – unused opportunities

More from category

President Radev and experts discuss Bulgaria's candidacy to host Winter Youth Olympic Games

Three medals for the Bulgarians gymnasts at the World RG Cup finals in Baku

Nurgyul Salimova ends in a draw in penultimate round of the Candidates Tournament