Interview: Hans Knauß in portrait.
A Schladming legend.
Triumphs and milestones:
A fine time
Born in 1971 in Schladming as the youngest of six children, Hans Knauß grows up sheltered, but not necessarily financially well-off on the Planai. At the age of 15, Hans puts everything on one card: After failing to pursue his dream of only racing in winter, he boards the train to Altenmarkt, fights his way to the Atomic boss, and asks for a job: on the assembly line in summer, and free to ski in winter.
"I used to ski so much on icy slopes, that's why I enjoy it immensely when I glide weightlessly through the powder snow into the valley. Nothing hurts and it’s just an awesome feeling! I don’t need anything more to be happy."
Quote: Hans Knauß
Personally asked:
You have chased the clock your whole life. Do you have a more specific concept of time as an athlete than others?
Absolutely. Time was THE measure of success. From a young age, it was always about seconds, then hundredths. However, at home, you were never defined by success as a person. When you came home with a trophy, no one was extremely excited. Instead, when you lost, they would pat you on the back and say: "It will be alright!" As a child, I experienced that very relaxed, and it has probably shaped me. I am still grateful for that today.
You were often just a few hundredths of a second away from triumph at major events. How do you deal with that?
I was already nicknamed "Hundredths-Hansi" back then. At the 1999 World Championships, I had a hundredth of a second deficit in the Super G and didn’t even come in second, but only third, because Maier and Kjus won ex aequo. I still think: Why wasn’t I allowed to become World Champion? I was really close several times. Somehow, however, I feel that it was important for my life.
In what way?
Maybe I would have lost motivation or become arrogant.
If you could travel back in time with a time machine, which moment would you choose?
Ha, no one has ever asked me that! From a sporting perspective, it was definitely Kitzbühel 1999. That was such an incredibly great moment; I still get goosebumps thinking about it: I knew the superstars were already at the finish. Then I raced down, and at the finish, I felt that I had achieved something amazing. 56,000 spectators were there, and everyone was cheering like crazy. When I turned around and saw the number one on the scoreboard... I will never forget that!
How does one slow down after such a sports career? In other words: a full stop or a gentle roll-out?
There was this smooth transition for me, from professional sports into commenting for ORF and also doing camera rides.
Is this gliding a bridge to another passion - moving on two or four wheels?
Yes, definitely! It’s about doing something with feeling in these sports. Gliding along has its own fascination, for example, on a mountain bike or motorcycle tour, but also during some fast laps in a car on the Red Bull Ring. Just as cool as skiing in deep snow when there’s really nice powder. I used to ski so much on icy slopes, that’s why I enjoy it immensely when I glide weightlessly through the powder snow into the valley. Nothing hurts, and it’s just an awesome feeling! I don’t need anything more to be happy.
Let’s talk about the flow. Every athlete knows this feeling of being 'one' with the moment. Do you also experience that when racing down the Streif?
Yes - and it’s wonderful! In fact, it’s difficult to feel this intensity anywhere else in life, those moments when you are 100 percent in the tunnel. It just flows so easily. I sometimes miss that.
Because the world becomes so simple at full throttle?
Yes, because then what you are doing in that moment is all that matters, and you focus on the essentials.
With whom would you like to spend time if you could choose?
I was lucky enough to meet special people through skiing whom I would never have met otherwise. Once I trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Schladming in the gym. That was interesting because the guy is so completely normal that you can hardly believe it. It showed me that even people who have reached the top live completely normal and grounded lives and are not different from you. That was an important lesson for me.
What do you wish for the future?
Clearly: health. For all of us, for the family, that is far more important than anything else. And secondly, that everyone is happy: Leo, my son, who is currently leaning towards agriculture, my daughter, who also wants to become a skier, and of course my wife as well. If the people I live with are doing well, then I’m doing well too.
What does the Knauß family have in its blood that with Nella the fourth generation is now on racing skis?
Yes, it’s interesting, it must really have something to do with the genes...
How do you feel as a father when you follow your daughter's path?
When Nella was little, I wasn’t really into it because I know how dangerous skiing is. I also see how the young ones start having back problems and injuries. As a father, you think: I just want my girl to be okay.
Especially because you have experienced all the ups and downs in competitive sports, you naturally don’t want to put that on your child. You often think: No, please do something else! But on the other hand, you are also proud when you see how much fun she has. But standing in the finish area and watching... Believe me, that is definitely the worst. I will never get used to that!
Spontaneously asked:
Gourmet cuisine or sandwich?
Gourmet cuisine!
Beer or wine?
Beer!
Mountain or valley?
Mountain!
Craftsman or DIY?
DIY!
Sports car or SUV?
Sports car!
Gasoline or hybrid?
Exactly ONLY gasoline!
Straight or curve?
Curve! It simply offers more action!
Powder or firn?
Powder!
Glide or rush?
Nowadays rather... Glide!
Hunter or collector?
Hunter!
Digital or analog?
Analog!
Private or prominent?
Private! Always...
