Young talents from Engelberg

How did you get into ski jumping and why did you stick with it?

Sina Arnet: ‘I don't really remember exactly, but I was still a little girl. It was always clear to me that I wanted to be a ski jumper. What I do remember is that we had a snow hill in the garden that I used to jump off. Sometimes children from the whole neighbourhood would come and before we jumped, we would say the names of our role models. For me it was always Simon Ammann, for the other children it was usually ski racers. It was already clear to me that I wanted to be a ski jumper one day. To this day, it remains a mystery to me how I even knew who Simon Ammann was. My family wasn't against ski jumping, but it was never very important to me. I suspect that I learnt about ski jumping and Simon Ammann through the World Cup in Engelberg. I then went ski jumping in Einsiedeln for the first time in 2013. I felt like I had already flown an incredible distance with my four metres. I liked it so much that I kept pushing to go to Einsiedeln. That's how I got stuck with ski jumping.’

Lars Künzle: ‘I got into ski jumping because my father is the World Cup coach for the ski jumpers. He's been there for ages. That's how he got me into ski jumping. I started when I was four years old. Since then, I've wanted to go up there with my father to take part in competitions with him. He got me started in this sport.’

Celina Wasser: ‘My brother Yanick also jumps, so I often went to watch him. In the beginning, I always said that I wouldn't do it. Later, there was a competition in Gibswil. Eva Pinkelnig was jumping there, who is now in the World Cup and is very good. When I saw her jump, I wanted to do it too. I now ski jump because I think the feeling of flying is so cool.’

Elias Arnold: ‘When I was about five years old, I was on holiday in Germany with my family. We went on a day trip to Oberstdorf and watched the spectacle on the ski jump. I was thrilled and I insisted to my father for a long time that I really wanted to do the same. Of course, that wasn't possible straight away, so he promised me that I could perhaps try it out on the ski jump in Einsiedeln. A year later in spring, I kept pushing until I was actually allowed to attend a training session in Einsiedeln on a Wednesday. I liked it so much that I continued to go to training, and that's how it all started.’

Who is your role model and why?

Sina Arnet: ‘Simon Ammann is definitely a huge role model for me. He has achieved almost everything you can achieve in ski jumping. I was able to jump together with him at the World Championship Mixed - I would never have dreamed of that as a little girl. He is also very down-to-earth as a person, open to the boys and always willing to listen and help. That's why he will always be a role model for me. I certainly have other role models, but that always changes a little depending on the situation. I also admire many role models for technical reasons: For example, if I like their jumping style.’

Lars Künzle: ‘My role model is Ryoyu Kobayashi. I particularly admire his impressive jumping style and his exceptional technique, with which he often scores points down to the smallest detail. This combination of perfect technique and mental strength makes him an absolute role model in ski jumping for me.’

Celina Wasser: ‘I don't just have one role model. I look at different aspects, for example the jump or the attitude of a person. If I like it or think it's good, then I think that person is cool.’

Elias Arnold: ‘Stefan Kraft - he's only 1.70 metres tall and yet he's one of the best jumpers in the world. With my genes, I probably won't be much taller than him. But the fact that he, as a rather small ski jumper, still celebrates such success is a huge motivation for me and confirms to me that you can be one of the best even if you're not the tallest.’

What are you doing this year on the World Cup weekend when the world's best athletes are jumping over the Gross-Titlis ski jump?

Sina Arnet: ‘I'll probably be jumping too. It's in the planning and definitely the goal. If nothing else goes wrong, I'll be there.’

Lars Künzle: ‘I'll certainly be there to watch. I'll also be watching to see what I can take away from the jumps for myself and my training. I always go to competitions so that I can take something away with me.’

Celina Wasser: ‘If I don't have another competition, I'll be there to support my brother, Sina and the whole team. If I'm not there, I'll be at a competition myself. But that's still open, as it's rather spontaneous.’

Elias Arnold: ‘I'm at the Alpencup in Seefeld from Thursday to Saturday. We'll come home on Saturday evening and will definitely be at the ski jump on Sunday to watch and support the Swiss athletes.’

Engelberg doesn't have a training hill - so why is the Sportmittelschule still the best place for young ski jumpers?

Sina Arnet: ‘Engelberg Sports Middle School offers a great opportunity to combine school with training. As we are travelling a lot in winter and are away more than 50% of the time, attending a normal school would not be possible. The sports school offers many training opportunities. All the coordination is also very well organised. I am very happy that I made the decision to go to the sports middle school. At the beginning I was the only female ski jumper, but it was still ideal for me as I live in Engelberg and could always go home. We are now a whole group of ski jumpers, which I really like.’

Lars Künzle: ‘Apart from the ski jump, we have good training facilities, such as the weight rooms. Our coach is at the sports middle school and we have a small training group with whom we train together. Although we don't have a ski jump in Engelberg, we can train in Einsiedeln and Kandersteg. For me, it's great that school and sport work well together and are divided up.’ 

Celina Wasser: ‘The training opportunities at the Sportmittelschule are great, especially because it fits in with the school. There are lots of other athletes at the sports centre, such as skiers etc., so it feels like a family. Because you're only surrounded by sport, you can concentrate well on your own sport.’

Elias Arnold: ‘The older years of ski jumpers have paved the way for us and we get on very well. School and sport are perfectly compatible with the conditions at the sports centre. The training opportunities - strength training, for example - are right on the doorstep and at the same time they offer me the chance to do a commercial apprenticeship or grammar school. I really like that, I'm very flexible and the training opportunities are there without having to travel long distances.’

What are your short-term and long-term goals?

Sina Arnet: ‘My short-term goal is the Junior World Championships, which is a huge highlight for me because it's the last time I can take part. I will try to attack and do my best. The World Cup weekend in Engelberg is also very special for me because it's right on my doorstep. Depending on how the season goes, I would still like to go to the ‘real’ World Championships. In the long term, the 2026 Olympics is definitely the big goal I'm working towards at the moment.’

Lars Künzle: ‘My short-term goal is to take part in the Junior World Championships after the New Year. I'm currently training and ‘fighting’ for that. If everything goes well and I have a successful season, I hope that I can move up to the Swiss-Ski C squad. My long-term goals are definitely to be among the top jumpers in the World Cup, to become Olympic champion, world champion, etc.’

Celina Wasser: ‘My short-term goals are definitely to make it into the top 30 at the Alpen Cup, as I was already in the top 20 last year and would like to get back into the same bracket. A long-term goal is that I can jump in the World Cup in Engelberg and that I can go to the Olympic Games.’

Elias Arnold: ‘In the short term, I want to make progress in training, both technically and mentally. I also want to score points in the Alpine Cup. In the longer term, I want to finish high school with my A-levels and then one day stand on the podium at a four-hill tour, a world championship and win Olympic gold.’