For Swiss athlete Lea Fischer, the Davos World Cup holds special significance—a chance to perform at home, on familiar terrain, surrounded by the unwavering support of her family, friends, and an enthusiastic local crowd.

Home Advantage

Lea Fischer is no stranger to the Davos course. It was here, in December 2020, that she earned her first World Cup points with a strong 25th-place finish in the sprint. Since then, she has continued to grow as an athlete, training under the guidance of Andreas Waldmeier, the former coach of Swiss Olympic cross-country skier Laurien Van Der Graaff.

In a recent interview with Proxcskiing.com, Fischer shared her excitement about racing in Davos. “I am really excited to start the World Cup season at home in Davos. My focus is for sure the sprint on Saturday,” she said, her enthusiasm palpable. For Fischer, racing on home soil is a unique and uplifting experience. “It is really cool to race in my home country. First of all, I know the course pretty well, the venue is familiar, and I can stay at my place during the races. Then, my family and friends will come to support me. When we start the race, the crowd is cheering so loud that I nearly fly over the uphills,” she added. 

Fischer has opted to train outside the Swiss National Team structure, where she has been working with Waldmeier for the past seven years. This decision has allowed her to craft a training program tailored specifically to her needs, a choice she believes has been instrumental in her development. “Summer training has been really good for me. I have trained a lot, with high quality, and have never really been sick, so I could train consistently,” Fischer explained.

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This summer, she undertook intensive training camps, including two weeks in Trondheim, Norway, to prepare for the upcoming World Championships. “I organized and paid for the training camps by myself and could do what I really needed to. I was 2 weeks in Trondheim in the summer to prepare for the upcoming Worlds with lots of training and rollerski races. Then I was in Oberhof in the ski tunnel together with Candide Pralong. Otherwise, I was a lot in Davos and had really good routines for my daily training,” Fischer said. 

Looking Ahead

Fischer has clear goals for the season. Her primary focus is the World Championships in Trondheim, a place she fondly calls her “second home” after having lived, trained, and studied there for four years. “My biggest goal is the Worlds in Trondheim. I know the course well and am looking forward to meeting many familiar faces besides the track. The focus is to get to start at the sprint and show my full potential,” she stated.

As for the upcoming World Cup in Davos, Fischer is determined to make the most of the opportunity. “My goal is to have a lot of fun and do the best I can on this day. My shape is good, so I am excited for what is coming,” she concludes.

FACTS Davos World Cup Season 2024/2025

• When: Friday, December 13 to Sunday, December 15
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Davos, Switzerland
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Davos, Switzerland

PROGRAM

Friday, December 13: Team Sprint Freestyle (More details can be found HERE)

• 16:00 CET: Team Sprint Qualify F, Women
• 16:00 CET: Team Sprint Qualify F, Men
• 18:00 CET: Team Sprint F, Women
• 18:00 CET: Team Sprint F, Men

Saturday, December 14: Sprint Freestyle (More details can be found HERE)

• 14:45 CET: Sprint Qualify F, Women
• 14:45 CET: Sprint Qualify F, Men
• 17:15 CET: Sprint Final F, Women
• 17:15 CET: Sprint Final F, Men

Sunday, December 15: 20km Interval Start Classic (More details can be found HERE)

• 11:30 CET: 20km Interval Start C, Men
• 14:00 CET: 20km Interval Start C, Women

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.