David Ketterer to Compete In FIS World Cup in Austria

BOULDER – University of Colorado freshman alpine skier David Ketterer will compete in the men's slalom at the FIS World Cup on Jan. 22 and 24 in Kitzbühel, Austria.

Ketterer, a native of Bad Durrheim, Germany, was selected just this past week to compete for the German National Team in the prestigious World Cup slalom events in Austria.

CUBuffs.com caught up with Ketterer to preview his first World Cup appearance and talk about the success he's had to open his freshman season with the Buffs, where he has won all three slalom races he has competed in this winter for Colorado.

Q: How did the opportunity to ski at the World Cup in Austria come about? Was it results based off your performances in the NorAm Cups (where he won two slalom races, the first active CU skier under 27-year head coach Richard Rokos to win a NorAm Cup event)?
A: "The wins in NorAm and college slaloms gave me a way better world ranking position than the one I was in before. The national head coach told me before I went to college that if my performance was promising and my world ranking was good, I might still be considered for World Cups. His call on Monday morning was still a surprise to me and I'm very happy to get the chance to compete at the prestigious World Cups."

Q: You enter the World Cup with a lot of momentum. What are your expectations for yourself competing in Austria?
A: "I know that the field is tough and the hills are very demanding. My plan is to attack and ski as determined as I did in the last couple races."

Q: What are your skiing aspirations (i.e. win a NCAA Championship, ski in the Olympics, etc.)?
A: "I want to win as many NCAA Championships with the team as possible. I think we have a strong team this year and everything is possible. But for now I think from race to race and mainly focus on my skiing."

Q: What has winning your two slalom races in the NorAm Cup meant to you?
A: "I am very happy that I was able to show my best skiing in these races and could walk away with two wins."

Q: In your short time at Colorado, what have you learned most working with head coach Richard Rokos and the team?
A: "I learned that no matter what the circumstances are, you can still get a maximum out of it if you accept what you cannot change and work hard. It's new to me to be on a team that actually competes in a team competition and I like the team spirit and the way we push each other."

Q: How has your experience in Boulder and at CU been during your first year in college?
A: "I really enjoy the balance of studying and sports and the life in Boulder in general. School has been a lot of work, but mostly interesting and the facilities at Dal Ward and Champions Center are simply amazing, I have never seen anything like it."

Q: At what age did you start skiing?
A: "I started skiing when I was two and a half years old."

Q: What do you enjoy doing when it is not ski season?
A: "I love to play soccer and tennis. I also I enjoy spending Saturday's with the boys."

Q: Outside of skiing, what kind of career would you like to have after college?
A: "I think the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is both important and interesting and I want to be a part of it."

Results from Ketterer's runs at the World Cup can be found at www.fis-ski.com.

David Ketterer to Compete In FIS World Cup in Austria

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David Ketterer

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