„Talk unterm Turm“ with the heroes of the skies – Andreas Kofler and Richard Freitag

Talk unterm Turm“ with the heroes of the skies – Andreas Kofler and Richard Freitag

It is a highlight after the end of the season, when the snow on the jumping hills is melting and the jumpers are putting away their skies: Dirk Thiele calls – and the ski-jumpers come to Berlin to a round of talks in the Rathauspassagen.

Guests this time: Andi Kofler, manifold world champion, four hills- tournament winner of 2009/10 and Olympic champion with the team, as well as Richard Freitag, who celebrated his first world cup victory in the season 2011/12 and holds the German record in ski-flying with 230m.

Dirk Thiele is a chat-show host par excellence. He performs confidently, leading the event as if he pulls the strings. The questions come automatically, he gives the impression like he’s chatting with friends and beams all-embracing professionalism at the same time.

The Austrian Andi Kofler visibly feels good. He’s smiling at the crowd, makes jokes often and is ready for every photo. Already during the break he finds contact to the fans and signs cards.

Richard Freitag seems to be reserved at first sight. He’s smiling nicely and waits for Thiele to ask him to come on stage. But without hesitating he’s answering his questions, shows esprit and intelligence and knows how to counter – which lets the chat-show host be speechless for a second. To Thiele’s question, whether he has a girlfriend and the comment, Thiele would need that information to don’t tell lies on TV, he’s answering calmly: “Dirk, as long as everyone knows, that you don’t know anything…”

The crowd is stoked; these likeable guys with their honest answers and authentic attitude find their way into the people’s hearts within seconds. The time flies by, while their talking about personal plans for the future, sportive prospects, the finished season and the training. They are skillful in avoiding and also averting questions that could be too private.

Richard Freitag tells about his preferences in music, the band “Die Ärzte” is something he likes to listen to. He would also like, just as his father Holger did, study medicine later in his life. He was the one, who, as well as his son in the finished season, won the world cup competition in Harrachov. However Andi Kofler is already police inspector with a completed education- but right now he’s full-time athlete.

The theme motivation is a central one in ski-jumping. Andi Kofler, who participated in a training camp for children in the last season, resumes: “That gives positive memories, that’s worth the trip. It gives back a base. The children are doing this for fun and this is how it should be.” To his own childhood he’s remembering: „I got an autograph from Espen Bredesen and put it into a picture frame.“

Richard Freitag likes to motivate himself before a jumping, just like; “We’re going to Planica, the track is bad, the wind is bad…it can only become better!”

But also the family is keeping the jumpers grounded – even personally at the jumping hill. Kofler thinks: “It is nice, when the family is supporting us on the way. It gives strength.” In case of Richard Freitag this is also happening at home, as he tells grinning: “I like to go upstairs and help myself with the fridge of my parents, mine is usually quite empty.”

Of course, next to all the training, of which Kofler only got four jumps at the beginning of the season because of back problems, it is interesting, what ski-jumpers do with their rare free-time. Richard Freitag reports, he will join the Bundeswehr in April. In case of Andi Kofler, Dirk Thiele knows it well: Telemark. He’s nodding: “Yes, to get rid of ballast.”

Although the charming Austrian is an expert with his 27 years, he thinks, he can also learn from the German shooting star: „Richard has a calm flying-system.” Dirk Thiele laughs: „You’re dangling a bit more, that’s right.”

In contrast to him, Richard Freitag never had to suffer a bad fall until now. But he is aware of: “We always have to bear upon the risk.” Andi Kofler admits: “This sports is top-heavy.” But a psychologist isn’t needed. Freitag is also sure: „You can’t prevent yourself from thinking.”

To the question how the relationship between the Germans and the Austrian ski-jumpers is, both charismatic young men are grinning to each other. Kofler rises to speak: “Somehow we are a big family.”

A big plus factor goes to Thiele, who’s working for Eurosport since 20 years, for inducing a question-answer-session for the viewers. It is important for him, to give everyone the opportunity to say something. There are very interesting questions among those, the people ask, like how they think about social media, that means the way of being in contact with the world via twitter and facebook, just like the Norwegian ski-jumpers practice it. Andi Kofler: “A part of us is glassy. There’s a part, where I like to be for myself. I don’t need to tell everything.” Richard Freitag adds: “press conferences and events like this one are there for this. When I’m home, then I’m at home.”

There’s also the question about the injustice of giving points by the jury but Kofler is shaking his head: “I believe everyone is giving 100% - the jury as well as those, who prepare the hill.”

Subsequently they’re giving their congratulations with kisses on the cheeks to Anett, a young excited girl from Dresden. The popping of flashbulbs sets in. It’s the beginning of the autograph session. Patiently the young high-flyers sign every card and photo given to them. Often they are interrupted, there are girls entering the stage, who want pictures with their idols. It’s a good mood, the crowd pushes, but it’s not that bad. Not before an hour later they manage to say good-bye. You can’t dissemble all the scrimmage around their persons, Andi Kofler says: “I take time for this, it’s important.”

The crowd is slowly leaving, only the empty stage reminds of the fact that two of the best of this sports have been guests here minutes before. Now the Rathauspassagen are a normal shopping mall again until the next time, when they say: Welcome to Talk unterm Turm.

• report and pictures by Peggy Kierstan (@pikayartist)