Cédric Noger (29) will remember Kranjska Gora with mixed feelings in the future. On the one hand, the Wiler celebrated his best World Cup result to date (4th place) in March 2019 in the Slovenian ski resort. On the other hand, he sustained the most serious injury of his career there last weekend.
On Saturday, Noger missed the leap into the second round of the giant slalom. He therefore completes a training run to further test the material. But then it happens: “I only know that I flew through the air,” says Noger when visiting the hospital for the eastern Swiss television station “TVO”. He can no longer say whether it was just a threader or whether he went completely into the goal.
“The foot is gone!”
But he immediately felt that something was wrong with his left leg: “I was quite panicked. At first I thought the foot no longer belonged to the body. I thought: ‘The foot is gone! I’m losing my foot.'” The diagnosis: Fractured tibia and fibula.
“Of course it was a completely exaggerated reaction, but at that moment it was totally logical for me,” recapitulates the 29-year-old. But not only hysteria spread: “Feelings varied from sad to angry.”
He even wanted to talk regarding the training run: «I told my service man that it was actually much better. He didn’t know what I was referring to. I still had my run in mind.”
Racer or ski instructor?
But now it’s time to play the Playstation in the hospital bed instead of making turns on the racetrack. The timing is extremely unfavorable, explains his father Luc Kauf: “There were still two or three important races to come. And as always, the same applies here: After the season is before the season. » Material tests would now fall through the cracks, as would the rest of the preparation.
It’s the end of a messed-up season for the giant slalom specialist. Only in Adelboden did he score points in 22nd place. Noger’s plan: start rehab as soon as possible so that he can be back on skis in four or five months. The question, however, is “whether as a racing driver or a ski instructor”. (che)
Attention ski fans! Take quizzes and type ski races now
The 2021/2022 ski season is entering its final phase and with it the “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Numerous prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, look for the trophy icon on the mobile and desktop versions or go directly to skitrophy.ws.blick.ch.
Have fun and good luck!
The 2021/2022 ski season is entering its final phase and with it the “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Numerous prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, look for the trophy icon on the mobile and desktop versions or go directly to skitrophy.ws.blick.ch.
Have fun and good luck!
