The 17-year-old is considered the ÖSV Adler’s great young hope and was able to present himself on the big domestic stage for the first time at Bergisel in Innsbruck as part of the 72nd Four Hills Tournament. This also applies to 20-year-old Jonas Schuster, who is following in big footsteps and also wants to establish himself in the red-white-red World Cup team.
“It was always a dream to be there,” said Embacher on Tuesday following his 13th place in the qualification for the Bergisel jumping. The Tyrolean is currently jumping in impressive form, recently celebrated a victory in the second-class Continental Cup in Engelberg and has a very special sponsor in Schlierenzauer. When the 53-time World Cup winner first contacted him, the Stams ski high school student was certainly quite surprised.
“Gregor was always my role model”
“After my success at the European Youth Olympics (double gold, note) he wrote to me and we met for the first time in the spring,” said Embacher regarding the first news of his greatest idols. “Gregor was always my role model.” Schlierenzauer (33) has been helping Kitzbüheler SC’s future hope as a mentor for almost a year.
That’s really cool, emphasized Embacher. “He helps me mentally and around ski jumping. He can tell me a lot.” The jumping talent, who still has three years left to complete as a student, recently made his breakthrough in the Continental Cup. “It all happened very quickly, I haven’t really realized it yet,” he said before his World Cup debut.
Jonas Schuster goes on a long-distance hunt
Another red-white-red young hope is following in big footsteps. Jonas Schuster is the son of the long-time German national coach and current talent promoter Werner Schuster. However, the 20-year-old was introduced to ski jumping by Grandpa Willy Schuster, who took part in the Four Hills Tournament several times in the 1960s. “Funnily enough, my beginnings in ski jumping were with my grandfather as a coach,” said the junior vice world champion.
After Willy and Werner, Jonas is now the third ski jumper from the Schuster family to go hunting for distances on the tour. “That’s what connects us, a cool story,” said the Tyrolean from Mieming. However, Jonas doesn’t get much advice from his dad Werner, who also works as a TV expert. “He doesn’t really look following me, he’s not my coach. But if I need something or have a question, he gives me tips,” said Schuster, whose 17-year-old brother Jannik plays for FC Liefering.
The police athlete now wants to establish himself in the Continental Cup and look upwards step by step. At Bergisel, the two talents are already a support for the ÖSV Adler around Stefan Kraft (30), Jan Hörl (25) and Daniel Tschofenig (21). “I’m looking forward to the boys. They can support the team and also get important points for the Nations Cup,” emphasized ÖSV head coach Andreas Widhölzl.
