WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2014 Students carry their skis at the ski high school Schigymnasium in Stams, Austria. Downhill skiers attend a practice session at the ski high school Schigymnasium. — AFP photos Austria’s ski champion ‘factory’ churns out gold any of the world’s top skiers have walked some already compete at FIS (International Ski its halls and at this year’s Olympics, its Federation) or Europa Cup level-there are no Malumni swept 12 medals: for nearly half a school tests. Teachers then catch up at the end of century the ski high school in Stams, Austria has the season, when competitions wind down. been churning out champions like a factory. The tiny village, set in a green Tyrolean valley below Powerhouse of skiing snowy peaks, launched the careers of top skiing These days the school draws not just Austrians, names from Stephan Eberharter to Anita Wachter but students from Italy, Liechtenstein or or Toni Innauer and more recently Gregor Switzerland, including in recent years World Cup Schlierenzauer, Marlies Schild and Felix Gottwald. skiers Sandro Viletta and Tina Weirather. “They Not just alpine skiers but budding ski jumpers, enrich the program... we do look during the selec- snowboarders, biathletes and cross country skiers tion that they push our Austrian students and com- now come here in the hope of emulating their pete at the same level as them. They spur each oth- idols. But the road to glory is a tough one. Six-day er on,” said Reiter. Keegan Sharp, 17, chose Stams weeks from the age of 14, a tough entrance exam over the many top ski academies in North America, and a tight schedule with six hours of class every hoping to build on his skills with a stint in the morning followed by afternoon training in the gym “powerhouse nation of skiing”, despite already fin- or on the slope-more studying in the evening and ishing high school in Canada and now facing class- weekend races: attending this school is no walk in es in German. “Clearly, this school has been doing the park. something right for a number of years... with all the For hungry youngsters dreaming of world titles great racers it’s produced,” said the Banff, Alberta and Olympic gold, it’s nevertheless worth it. “I’d Downhill skiers head coach Thomas Reiter watches a student during a practice session at native. Enrolling here doesn’t come cheap at 8,150 rather train than go to school, that’s why I’m here... the ski high school Schigymnasium. euros ($6,600) per year on top of pricey equip- It’s a bit stressful sometimes, but it’s part of it,” ski they’re in school. But they learn to deal with it,” said five years here depending on whether they do a ment-Sharp said he brought 10 pairs of skis with jumper Johanna Haselwanter, 15, told AFP. Stams snowboarding coach Martin Kraetschmer. high school diploma or choose the business col- him along with boots, poles and race suits. But it’s also affords a glimpse at the pressure they’ll face lat- lege (Handelsschule) option. Stams is just one of still much less than it would be in other countries er on. “(The level) is very high. You always have to School vs slope five specialized ski schools in Austria, but it is one and many students have sponsors who provide give everything in races and in training, because In the dorm rooms-four boys or two girls to a of the most successful. “I think the recipe for our equipment. After all this, only one in 10 graduates there are so many who are just as strong as you,” room-boot bags and sports holdalls are piled high success is our consistency. The whole team is will become a competitive athlete. But it won’t stop said alpine skier Pascal Fritz, 17, who hopes to make on top of cupboards and race suits hang from behind the program, from the academic side and them from trying. “It’s a long road (to Olympic the Austrian ski team after he graduates this year. every available hook. About 60 teachers and 27 the sports side,” said men’s alpine ski coach gold) but I have dreams, I have a goal, and I’m “A lot is expected of these students. They have a trainers-many with links to the Austrian ski team- Thomas Reiter, himself a former pupil. In the win- working hard,” said Fritz. “If I don’t get injured, it really tight schedule, they have little free time when cater to the 170-180 students who spend four or ter, when students are busy training and racing- can definitely happen.” — AFP Downhill skier Keagan Sharp of Canada is watched by head coach Thomas Reiter during a Students stretch during a practice session. practice session..