A Story of The Unsung Ones

It is a cold, dark, and rainy day, here in Zermatt, Switzerland. The snow is starting to gather on the mountain tops. Everybody is starting to get back to work. Fall is approaching us. Was the training during the summer enough? There is no time to think about it. Because, once you click back into those bindings, your focus needs to be on that hill – 100%.

            With that in mind, the ones who are chasing the optimal preparations for the World Cup kick-off[1] are either already, or on their way to, the southern hemisphere (e.g., Chile, New Zealand, Argentina[2]). So is the protagonist of the story today, whom I’ve had the pleasure of speaking over the phone with, yesterday – Simon “Jimmy” Rueland.

            Building on the spirit of the last article, trying to get people more hyped about ski racing, again, I think Simon’s story is the perfect example of it. After what can only be described as, a challenging 23/24 season[3] - with equipment issues, struggling to get the big results that he wanted, etc. - Simon didn’t have a full-time spot on the team anymore. Despite that, he’s managed to pick himself up from the dust, and deliver a 24/25 season that can only be described as remarkable:

-       3 wins in the Europa Cup

-       5 podiums, total

-       Never finishing worse than 9th

-       Austrian National Champion

-       2nd in the Slalom, overall standing – securing himself a ticket for a World Cup spot, as well as a spot, back, on the national team

Yet, despite these achievements (all of which, were achieved outside of an organized system, and with no safety of a future in the sport), when I’ve mentioned his name to some people who are in ski racing[4], they didn’t know who he is. Naturally, there is plenty of people who do. But an inspiring story like this deserves a broader audience.

So, I’ve asked Jimmy to write about how the internal conversation was, with himself after 23/24, what his “Why?” was, that kept him going, and what kind of obstacles did he have to face and overcome, that people – that only see the results – might not be aware of. This is what he had to say:
            Simon:

Initially, I was disappointed about no longer being part of the ÖSV team and questioned what options were available to me. I realized that tackling the next season would demand significant physical and financial effort. Yet, I saw a clear goal: to achieve my objectives and succeed in the upcoming season. My motivation remained strong, and I was ready to work toward my goals. This realization led me to carefully consider the best path to achieve them and approach the season effectively. A key part of what’s “best for me” is the environment. My trusted coach, Peter Happ, played a crucial role in this, as we worked together day after day toward the same goal. He remains an essential piece of the puzzle. I also received tremendous support from the HPC Racing Team, which provided great opportunities and instilled confidence and belief in me—something incredibly important during this time. Together, we developed a plan, and through the private team, alongside my co-training status with the ÖSV, I gained excellent opportunities.

My "why" was my belief that I could achieve my goal: securing a fixed spot in the slalom through the European Cup. For me, this was the only way to keep my journey and passion for ski racing alive. I saw the opportunity, and after the season, I was thrilled to have accomplished this, especially since it was about my very existence in the sport. There was considerable pressure, but achieving this goal helped me grow and strengthened my confidence in my path and approach.

Of course, the season wasn’t without challenges. Suffering three DNFs in a row in the European Cup was a major setback, especially with my goal of achieving a top position in the overall slalom rankings. Managing to turn things around was incredible, and in one season, I experienced it all—thankfully with a happy ending. ;-)

For the first time, I’m now in a position to prepare for all World Cup slaloms and be eligible to start in every race. This is new for me, as my previous World Cup starts were overshadowed by uncertainty about the next race or whether I’d even get to compete. Now, I’m focused on preparing as best as I can, racing with joy and conviction, and delivering my top performance in every event. Achieving my goals will require taking risks, but I’m excited for the start and deeply grateful for this opportunity.

Leon:
            At this point I want to express my deepest respect for the effort and will that Simon put in, to get himself to where he is now – down south, back on the grind with the team, ready to let hell loose next season. I am excited to see where the journey takes him.
            We’re all on the search for our “why”; our ikigai. How we find it lies in our own hands.

[1] And, also, the ones who are fighting to get a spot for the Europa Cup/World Cup.

[2] Some, even, used to go to South Africa – but that might be a story for another day.

[3] Despite scoring his first World Cup points, and 4 top 10s in Europa Cup, and a 2nd place at German Nationals.

[4] Whom, I will not name – as I am not trying to shame anyone, but rather make a point that people are not that into skiing anymore, as they’ve used to be; even athletes/coaches/techs, who are part of the sport…