FIS SKI JUMPING
RACE DIRECTOR WALTER HOFER KINDLY ANSWERED OUR QUESTIONS
(FIS KAYAKLA ATLAMA YARIŞ DİREKTÖRÜ WALTER HOFER
SORULARIMIZI YANITLADI)
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FIS Kayakla
Atlama Yarış Direktörü Walter Hofer ile bu yaz Kayakla Atlama Yaz Grand Prix
Serileri’nden Einsiedeln’da (İSVİÇRE) görüşme fırsatım oldu. Kendisi ile daha
sonra internet üzerinden bir röportaj gerçekleştirdim, çünkü o kadar yoğun bir
programı var ki, adeta hiç durmuyor! Kendisine bir kez daha Kayakla Atlama
Blogu adına teşekkür ederim.
I had the chance to meet FIS Ski
Jumping Race Director Walter Hofer this summer at Summer Grand Prix Series in
Einsiedeln/Switzerland. Then, I realized this online interview with him,
actually this was the only way to do it, as he had an extremely busy agenda. I’d
like to thank you once again for this lovely interview on behalf of Kayakla
Atlama Blog.
"I try to take decisions without emotions"
Şirin Güven: Ski jumping is no doubt a sport, but at the same
time, with sponsors, prizes, spectators and broadcasting, it's also a business
and entertainement. Often when the weather conditions do not help the
competition to take place, you have hard time and you're the one who has to
decide, upon the information you get from your team, to continue or to stop.
Last season, there were quite moments like this, did you receive aggressive
critics? If so, how do you deal with it? Your decisions have a consequence on
the fairness of the competition, too, like if you don't decide quick enough and
then cancel it, it might be unfair for the other athletes who couldnt jump. So
is there a procedure of appeal to your decisions by coaches after the
competition is completed? Had any appeal until now been made? If yes, did
anything change?
Walter Hofer: I would better
give you some detailed information so that you could understand a bit better
the background of our organigram. First of all, I have led the competition jury
for more than 15 years. But for a few years now, I am a kind of supervisor for
the Jury. I am not a member of the three functions (Technical Delegate,
Assistant to the Technical Delegate and the Chief of Race). I am now the head
of the so called "Competition Management" which acts if
decisions are made which are not stated by the rules for the jury. For example,
if the three members of the jury have to stop the competition (for any reason)
then I am in charge to decide on delays, interruptions, cancellations etc. I am
also in charge to make decisions public, that’s why you see me then in the role
of decision, but not all of them are made by me.
In other words, the Jury has
decribed tasks and obligations and I have to observe if they are kept. If any
decision is not descriped in the regulations, it is up to me to make further
actions and advices to the jury. This is important because I cannot be
legislative and executive in one person. As long as the competition
runs smoothly, the jury is in action. If a situation occur that the jury has to
stop, I am in action (this is the reason why commentators or spectators are
crazy and upset about me when it has to be cancelled or restarted etc. :-) But
this is fair, because that takes the pressure from the jury away. I am used
that people don´t like me ;-)
The second
important info is that I am surrounded by real professional partners. Miran for
example is extremely careful and is very experienced. The same with Sepp or the
nominated officials. All of them are former ski jumpers or coaches.
The interest
in such a competition is of course different. Sponsors, organiser, television,
agencies, national federations, but this is no problem for us, because FIS is
not having the TV or marketing rights
for World Cup events. Therefore we never feel any pressure from this site. It
is completely up to the sport. But it is of course fair, that not everybody can
be happy with our decisions. Some are in the lead, some are not, this is an
integrated part of sport. But it is very simple to charge for yourself: could
you imagine that we would stay long in our position if the sport would not be play
the most important role?
Another
point is the emotion. I try (and have to learn of course every day) to make
decisions never based on heart or emotions. Only rational facts and figures are
important. The decision must never be different, independent if there are 30
000 or just 300 spectators. This is actually the real challange in our
work. To keep the decisions based on safety and fairness.
Şirin Güven: Why Ski jumping? I do not know your whole career, but for ex. why not alpine or nordic skiing or skating?
Walter Hofer: That happened by accident. I wanted
to be a football player and played for more than 15 years, but not in high
leagues and I was not very talented, just passionate and enthusiastic and I
loved it. I made a commercial school at first but I wanted to know much more
about sport. That’s why I decided to quit my work at age of 25 in order to go
to Salzburg for a study in physical education and psychology. This study, of
course, I had to finance on my own, that’s why I was searching for a job. One of
my first educations also was physio and masseur. So I saw an announcement from
the Austrian Ski Association. They were looking for a young student who had
knowledge to serve ski jumpers especially for physical training, relaxation,
mental training etc. This was my field of play, and this was independent from
the sport at first. I could have done it in any sport. But I started to study
„my“ vision of this field of sport and learned also the basics of professional
training. After ten years of serving, coaching etc (6 years for the austrians,
4 years for the germans) I was asked to join FIS in order to build up the new
position of a professional coordinator for ski jumping. This position has been
evolved over the years as well - till now. You see, too much about myself. I
also have a lesson as lecturer at University of Salzburg, on Event management.
"Big changes made ski jumping safer and fairer"
Walter Hofer: There are historically 5 big
players: Germany, Norway, Finland, Austria, Japan. The reason was because these
nations also had the theoretical knowledge in their countries (universities who
were dealing with this sport), and most of the manufacturers, ski producers
etc. are also from there. In recent years we were able to balance this
advantage a bit and to enlarge this number of potential nations to some other countries:
Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, Czechia. … and now we are hoping that some
others will succeed as well: Russia, KAZ, France etc. … and hopefully
some nations which try to develop ski jumping as well: Turkey, KOR, China. Not
to forget USA and CAN.
Şirin Güven: Ski jumping is still developing, rules are changing constantly, new technologies are in use on a large scale, for example, on summer grand prix, a new system was tried concerning qualifications. So what more can we expect? What else could be altered in this Sport to make it more secure or exiting or competitive? Any other projets upcoming?
Walter Hofer: Many ideas, many thoughts, but to be honest, the big changes were made 10 to 15 years ago. There we were able to make ski jumping safer and fairer. Now the rules for formats, equipment, organiser etc. are made in smaller steps. But the summer is an ideal field where we can test new modifications and prove if something could be taken to the winter series. But at the moment we are more focused to improve the environment for our athletes and for their personal service. For the infrastructure, preparations etc. This is not so informative and interesting for media, but we are constantly working on these fields as well.
Şirin Güven: As a personal point of view, on which hill/hills you think, you observe that the atmosphere is unique, both from athletes' and spectators' sides?
Walter Hofer: To be honest, we feel that there
are many organiser nowadays which are able to create their own atmosphere. You
cannot compare Zakopane with Willingen, Oslo with the 4 Hills Tournement,
Vikersund with Planica. All of them are unique and show great atmosphere.
Şirin Güven: Are there any
opportunities for people who are interested in taking part at Ski Jumping
Events, as training or apprenticeship on technical issues or organization, apart
from volunteers? Also for berkutschi website, like writing articles or posting videos
about Ski jumping?
Walter Hofer: Yes, everything is possible. We
have always volunteers who are engaged with various organiser and in various
fields. One has only to contact the organiser directly. FIS has a very small
but effective administration. But the organiser always have space for
interested people.
Şirin Güven: From a sportsman, technical man and organizer point of view, what do you think should Turkish Ski Federation, Technical men of Turkish Team do in order to improve and promote this Sport and have higher goals in the Future?
Walter Hofer: First of all, our federations and
national associations are independent members of FIS. We never interfere into
their policies. But we are always willing to deliver our expertises and
experiences. Many times we send our experts for inspections if they are asked.
For the Turkish Ski Federation, I am very pleased to follow the latest
development. I have a very good feeling that it goes into the right direction.
I am quite convinced that in the near future Turkish athletes will take part on
international levels.
Şirin Güven: It's a personal question so I understand if you don't answer it:-)
What does Walter Hofer do in his private life, when he's not organizing any competition? Any hobbies with adrenalin? Any children involved in ski jumping?
What does Walter Hofer do in his private life, when he's not organizing any competition? Any hobbies with adrenalin? Any children involved in ski jumping?
Walter
Hofer: Two small girls who are in the meantime grown up ladies cover my whole
private live. … and to be honest, I cannot really divide between private and
business time. We do a beloved job where working time is not a counting factor.
Ek: Hofer'in bahsettiği ve FIS tarafından belirlenmiş olan jüri, jürinin görevleri ve yarış direktörü hakkında yürürlükte olan mevcut referans kurallarını da İngilizce olarak aşağıda inceleyebilirsiniz.
Reference Rules of FIS
402.1 The
Jury
402.1.1 The
Jury consists of the following members:
- the Technical Delegate (TD)
- the Chief of the competition
- the Assistant of the TD.
402.1.2 The
Duties of the Jury
The Jury
must ensure that the entire competition, including the official train-ing sessions,
is organised and carried out in accordance with the Rules of the International
Competition Rules (ICR).
The Jury
must decide:
402.1.2.1
From which maximum inrun-length the jumpers must start.
The length
of the inrun must be determined in such a way, that the jumping hill is used to
its full capacity.
For the
competition, the Jury is required to meet, once a jump has reached 95 % of the
established Hill Size (HS) to consider whether the round of jumps is to
continue. The Jury must decide whether the round in progress can be continued
with the same inrun speed, or whether it must be cancelled and repeated from a
lower starting gate.
If the jumps
are too short, the round can be stopped, cancelled, and started over from a
higher gate. In the event that the so called Wind/Gate Compen-sation System is
in place, the in-run length can also be changed within a competition round (see
art. 422.1).
402.1.2.2 In
which sphere of the wind condition (velocity) the jumper is allowed to
start.
402.1.2.3
The need to interrupt, postpone or cancel the competition.
402.1.2.4
About the starting order for a competitor who is either delayed arriving at the
start due to „force majeure“, or concerning a re-jump for a competitor who has
been obstructed.
In cases in
which the Jury cannot take an immediate decision the jump or re-jump may be
provisionally granted. This decision must be announced to the public. 33
402.1.2.5
All protests, disqualifications, sanctions and questions that occur during the
competition and are not covered or not covered completely by the ICR Rules and
Regulations.
402.1.3
Decisions
All
decisions by the Jury must be made by open vote and a resolutions-protocol must
be drawn up on all decisions which were taken. Each of the members has one
vote. All the decisions of the Jury require plain/simple ma-jority.
The members
must vote (agreement or rejection, abstention is not possible) with the
following exceptions:
- member is prevented from voting due to “force
majeure”,
403.2 FIS
Race Director (RD)
This
official is nominated by the FIS for competitions of the highest category (see
art. 402.2.1). The FIS Race Director must possess a TD-license for Ski
Jumping.
403.2.1 The
Duties of the Race Director include:
- Represents the interests of the International Ski Federation.
- Schedules and conducts inspections.
- Supervises that all aspects of the organiser contract are correctly
fulfilled.
- Monitors the proper operation of the event according to the regulations and
guidelines of FIS and reports to the resp. Technical Committees.
- Responsibilities for the coordination of all persons and parties
involved.
- Coordination of decisions concerning postponements and
replacements of an event after cancellations.
The RD has
the authority to ask the organising committee for any support deemed necessary
to the fulfilling of these tasks.
