All beginnings are difficult

July, the month of vacation.
Not for me. I could start my profession again. Finally!

It´s always exciting to put on a bib and feel the excitement of competition.
For me, it has been obvious that there is still a lot to do.

In Wisla I could not deliver the results which I have already shown during training.
Nevertheless that's also a good thing: to see where I am currently standing and what is left to do.
My goal is to be on the top level again until fall and the start of the winter World Cup.

I am highly motivated and know my way to get there. Step by Step. Jump for jump.
Together with the coaches.
This is a process within the whole team.

Competitions are still the best training for it.
I see in black and white on the result list where I am standing.
Right at the top of this list is currently an old acquaintance: Kamil Stoch is and remains the benchmark.

Similarly, another companion is about to set new benchmarks.
Primoz Roglic has finished 4th in the Tour de France.
Only a few years ago he was my fellow skijumping colleague.
So he has trained pretty much everything except endurance. And now he is in the top 4 in a competition, which stands for endurance performance like no other.
This shows what´s possible when you discover new things and dare to allow a change.
I congratulate Primoz on his performance.

I discovered stand-up paddling for me this summer.
It´s really a cool feeling to stand on the water and glide slowly and smoothly through it.
To feel the breath. To be in balance. To calm down after only a few minutes.
As a welcome change to the fast-paced jumps, my movements, which are about milliseconds and the tension that has come up again through the competitions.

So for me, July was a month of contrasts:

On the one hand I could spend very relaxing days with friends on Lake Garda.
La dolce vita, so to speak;)
On the other hand, the first competitions brought pressure.

I spent months preparing myself alone in the Olympia Center during training.
Since the last weeks we are back together and train as a team.

And I enjoy both. The tingling tension in the stadium, such as in Wisla.
As well as the silence and tranquility on my stand up paddle board on the lake.

All these things are just right for me and my development right now. Despite their contrasts.
There is no wrong and no right.
These are all experiences that help me to move on.
And for me, it's awesome to wake up every morning and to be able to work on myself and my potential.
I have the feeling that there is still a lot to come.
Of course, the clear goal is to find the missing pieces of the mosaic to get back to the best performance. But that, as I said, is a consequence of many small steps.

I was really moved again by the many reactions that I received not only in Wisla and during competitions.
Through social media, via email or even by actual mail I have received very personal, touching and motivating messages.
I would like to thank you for that!
Especially in moments when sportive results are less successful, it is a great feeling to know that I´m not alone.

Gregor