Luc Roduit was a great skiing genius – but then he also suffered a lot

Luc Roduit shone at the Lausanne Youth Olympic Games (YOG), winning three medals. Four years later, the Valais native is pushing for a spot in the European Championship.

While the world's best skiers have begun their ski season on Sölden's Rettenbach glacier, younger skiers are training in the shade to prepare for their next mission.

Such was the case with Luc Rodeit. Rodeiter, who was born in the Valle de Bagne, is completing week after week of training in preparation for the new season. Because nothing comes easy, the road to top sport is often rocky. He remembers the initial difficulties he faced making the Swiss ski team. The conservative athlete admitted that he had difficulties joining the team: “I was the only Romande and didn't know anything. But I adapted well to Röstigraben,” he says with a smile.

Youth Games excitement and pandemic hindrances

Adaptation is the key word for the Valais, whose faces can be seen on television channels and national media. “A lot has changed in the last four years,” Roediter said at the outset. After competing at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, where he won silver in the slalom and bronze in the super-G and giant slalom, the boy highlighted his “great experience” at the cantonal competition in Vaud. Most of all, he's pleased with how well he's managed the media's attention.

After the competition, he had to adapt to the FIS competition again. After the excitement, when the reporter handed the microphone to Ruit, he felt “a bit like a fraud.”

But an imposter emerged in the form of a virus: Covid-19. He didn’t know yet that the pandemic would slow down his development. “I was having a great season,” he said.

He took advantage of his Olympic form and set his sights on the Swiss U19 Cup to compete for the top three: “I was in good form, but then the epidemic came and the competition was cancelled. I was fourth,” he commented.

Luc Roduit is at his best in Lausanne.Image: KEYSTONE

At first glance, this fourth spot might not be particularly impressive. But finishing in the top three means joining the Swiss ski C team. The decision during the selection process went against him: Roediter would not wear the Swiss Ski Federation jacket.

An angry Luc Roduit then turned to work and made up for the injustice by sweating it out in the weight room: “When I found out I wasn't selected for Swiss-Ski, I doubled my training volume.”

He puts pressure on himself

But the ghost of overtraining always lingers, the mind wanting too much and the body not cooperating. A minor injury occurred and the doctor asked him to adjust his training load. Athletes’ requirements for snowboards are also too high.

He's been wallowing in grief all season when he suddenly becomes hesitant and loses trust: He needs a fresh start. He is changing equipment and making new attempts in the 2021/2022 new season. He turned his disappointment into determination and made it to Swiss-Ski's C team.

But to climb the career ladder in Swiss skiing, you need time and enough luck to avoid misfortune. In the 2022/2023 season, the Valais native will face physical pain that will slow him down again. Obstacle course and pain began to arch his back. “We still don't know what I had but I was in hospital for ten days. I also had pain in my collarbone. I had to take antibiotics for three months. “It really took a toll on me physically and mentally and I decided Shortened season. “

health problems left behind

These accidents on the trail shape the skier and strengthen his determination. Today Luc Rodeit is fighting for a spot in the European Cup. He is a great technician, excelling in both slalom and giant slalom, and is working toward a spot on the slalom team.

Luc Roduit is not wearing a helmet or glasses.Image: Andy Silab

After the baptism of the European Cup in Gstaad, he knew that he was in a gray area: “I have not yet secured a permanent place in the European Cup. I ranked between 10th and 13th (Editor's note, Swiss-Ski Can accommodate 10 riders).”

He is preparing to head north (the first European Cup competition will be held this weekend in Levi, Finland) to participate in the internal qualifying competition.

The Valais native knows that if he wants to establish himself at the highest level, he has to perform well on a regular basis: “The difficult thing in Switzerland is that you have to prove yourself at every level and be consistent in the European Cup if You want to have a chance to “make it to the World Cup.”

This year or never?

Young talents from Valais are entering the 2024/2025 financial year with great energy and the idea is to “go all out” to reach the next level. That's right, as he's able to look back on a very solid end to the season. Best of all, he shows up regularly, which is the magic formula for catching the trainer's eye.

The new season is very important for Luc Roduit: “If you look at the Swiss-Ski standard table, in the European Cup I had to be among the top 30 in one event and among the top 250 in the world in two events, Or enter the top 80 in a certain subject.”

He has great skills and the skiing ability needed to compete. “I will try my best to go as far as I can,” Roduit promised.

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