Norbert Holzknecht

Norbert woodcutter ( born April 13, 1976 in Grinzens ) is a former Austrian alpine skier. His special disciplines were downhill and super -G. He achieved three Top - 10 finishes in the World Cup and 17 victories in the European Cup.

Career

At the age of seven years visited woodcutter a racing school at Hugo Nindl, 1986 and 1987, he was Tyrolean Kids Champion. After elementary school he attended for two years the main school in Axams, before he moved to the Skihauptschule in Neustift. In his age group pupils II woodcutter 1991 Austrian student champion in the super -G, 1995, he was in the age group Youth II Austrian Junior Champion in the downhill. Starts in FIS races and the inclusion in the Austrian Ski Federation cadres anno 1994 came the first missions in the European Cup and to participate in the Junior World Cup in 1995 in Voss, where he won the silver medal in the downhill.

On 15 January 1996 Woodcutters celebrated his first European Cup victory in the departure of Les Orres, which two weeks later, the second win in the departure of Veysonnaz followed. So he decided in the 1995/1996 season for the first time the European Cup downhill rating for themselves. At the end of this winter he came in the finale at Kvitfjell first time in the World Cup for use where he finished in 20th and last place. After his European Cup victory discipline and the associated Weltup - Fixstartplatz woodcutter denied in winter 1997/1998 initially only World Cup downhills. However, since a 17th place at the season-opening race in Val d'Isere his best result was and he then usually only placements reached to Rank 30, he was again demoted to the European Cup. In the 1997/1998 season woodcutter decided with two wins in Altenmarkt and Megève again the Europa Cup downhill rating for himself, which he did at the beginning of the 1998/1999 season to another World Cup starts. His best result of the season, he scored again in the season opener in Val d'Isere than 15, but after that he had no World Cup points, which he in turn had to start in the European Cup.

After a weak 1999/2000 season to woodcutter could again qualify over the European Cup for the World Cup in winter 2000 /2001. He celebrated two victories in Les Orres and Sestriere and was equal on points with the Styrian Klaus Kroell second in the European Cup downhill standings, which he again secured for the next World Cup Winter 2001/2002 a Fixstartplatz in this discipline. But again, could not believe woodcutter in the World Cup foot, a 20th place in the first downhill in Val Gardena was his best result of the season. The entire January he was sidelined due to injury, after which he started back in the European Cup. In winter 2002/2003 woodcutter was the dominant European Cup runner in the speed disciplines. He won six of nine runs and three of six super -G, so he decided not only both discipline ratings but also the overall European Cup for themselves. He was also the first time in 2003 Austrian Champion in the downhill.

This lumberjack succeeded again to return to the World Cup, where he reached a total of three top-10 results in the next few years, but after injuries several times had to pause a long time. His first top- 10 finish in the World Cup scored woodcutter on 20 December 2003 in ninth place of departure and Val Gardena. A month later, however, the 2003/2004 season was over for him after he suffered a partial tear of the patellar tendon during retraction for the training downhill on the Streif Kitzbühel. The following season, 2004/2005 woodcutter went again as eighth in the downhill in Val Gardena once among the fastest ten, but after a crash on the descent from Chamonix on January 8, in which he suffered a concussion, he came to the rest of the winter no other World Cup inserts. Again on the Saslong succeeded in Val Gardena wood servant with tenth place in the exit the best World Cup result of winter 2005/2006. Due to a recent injury, however, the season was short for him to end it. His last start in the World Cup, the then 30 -year-old on 16 December 2006 in the downhill in Val Gardena, in which he was 30. End of winter 2006/2007 finished wood servant his career with the start at the Austrian Championships in Inner Krems, where he won the downhill title a second time. Since the end of his active career, he worked as a coach.

Achievements

Junior World Championships

• Voss 1995: 2nd exit, 9 Giant Slalom, Slalom 28

World Cup

• 3 places in the top ten

European Cup

• 1995/1996 season: first departure rating
• 1997/1998 season: first departure rating
• 2000/2001 season: 2nd exit summary
• Season 2002/2003: 1st overall, 1st exit rating, 1 Super -G standings

• 30 podiums including 17 victories:

Austrian Championships

• Austrian Champion in downhill in 2003 and 2007