A down-to-earth star. «Hey – Fanny!»
Intro
Pupils at Ecole Préfleuri rush towards their idol. They congratulate Fanny Smith on her world championship success. But more than anything else, they can hardly wait for their ski day with the star.
Villars-sur-Ollon
Situated at 1300 m, on a sunny south-facing terrace high above the Rhone valley, the holiday resort Villars-sur-Ollon in the heart of the Vaud Alps enjoys breathtaking views of the Dents-du-Midi and the Mont Blanc massif and as far as Lake Geneva.
Hint
Fanny Smith teaches the school kids like a professional instructor.
Flex your legs before the mogul then straighten them,
... explains the three-time medal winner. «That's how you zip through the ups and downs.»
Sure enough: with these tips, her students already ski much more smoothly down the course.
Training the next generation is the goal of the “Fanny Smith Academy”. The school offers ski cross training opportunities with professional instruction.
From fidget to professional athlete.
«I was a taxing child.»
She could already walk at nine months. To keep an eye on Fanny and her tireless energy, her nursery teacher in fact requested that an additional person be provided to help and this wish was indeed granted.
An iron will and an impressive talent for sport.
Fanny, from Vaud, had to climb her way to the top of the world rankings without the support of such a programme. And she achieved this thanks to her drive and incredible athletic ability.
I find alpine skiing boring
After many kilometres on the pistes, her trainers felt the same way. «Alpine skiing is too boring for me,» says Fanny Smith to this day. Without further training and contrary to the training plans, she chose a career as a professional ski crosser – with resounding success.
The 25-year-old has now ranked among the world’s top athletes for eight years.
Achievements
- 2010 Junior World Champion
- 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, 7th place
- 2013 World Champion
- 2013 Winner of the Ski Cross World Cup
- 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, 8th place
- 2015 World Championship 3rd place
- 2017 World Championship 2nd place
Ski cross on the brain – Villars at heart.
Her only goal was once to travel around the world. Goal achieved: The competition sent the young Valais girl to the furthest corners of the earth. However, there is a down side to jet-setting between Korea and Canada. Fanny only met up with her friends back in Villars twice all of last winter.
Switzerland, especially Villars, can’t be topped.
«It smells like home here – this is my home.»
Her parent’s house is just a stone’s throw away from the piste, and in around twenty minutes, you are at Lake Geneva. Whenever the globetrotter heads home and drives past the town sign, all is well.