Head coaches from Croatia and Austria are looking for a new rise in Finnish alpine skiing.
6.5. 16:56 • Updated 6.5. 16:58
A Croatian has been chosen as the new head coach of the Finnish alpine skiing national teams Davor Lazeta and the Austrian Mario Rafetzeder, says Ski Sport Finland in its press release. Coaches’ contracts are for two years.
Lazeta, 42, will continue to be the head coach of the women’s national team. He worked as the team’s assistant coach for the final season as a French head coach Nicolas Burtinin under the authority of the
– The athletes are familiar to me, so we can continue the work we have done. The big goal is to raise the team to a permanent World Cup scoring level. We have a young team with great potential to rise to the very top, Lazeta said in a statement.
Lazeta has previously coached at Tahko Alpine School, the United States and the Croatian national team.
Rafetzeder will take over as head coach of the men’s national team from the position of coach of the British European Cup. For the past two seasons, the position was handled by Swiss Osi Inglin.
– I am proud to have the opportunity to bring my skills to the Finnish men’s Alpine team. It is a great challenge to professionally coach a young and motivated team, 43-year-old Rafetzeder said.
Last season for Finnish alpine skiers was sluggish until the Beijing Olympics. Rosa Pohjolainen collected 25 World Cup points as the best Finn. Riikka Honkanen remained at three and Samu Torsti to two Cup points.