Norwegians say goodbye to head men’s coach “Sutti” Rottensteiner

Surprising news has emerged from the Norwegian Ski Association as they announced the departure of Austrian coach Michael Rottensteiner, also known as “Sutti.” Rottensteiner ended his snowboarder career at the young age of 17 due to injuries. Subsequently, he embarked on a highly fruitful path as an alpine skiing coach.

Alpine coaching career

Initially, Rottensteiner spent three years with the regional team in Steiermark, Austria, followed by five seasons with the Russian national team. Christian Mitter, now the technical director at the Norwegian association, brought Rottensteiner to Norway, where he had seven fruitful seasons. Rottensteiner is highly regarded in the World Cup coaching community because of his friendly nature and strong work ethic.

In 2018, Rottensteiner took on the role of the technical disciplines coach and achieved remarkable success. Under his guidance, athlete Sebastian Foss-Solevaag significantly won two gold medals (in slalom and team events) at the 2021 World Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Rottensteiner was expected to continue as the head coach of the Norwegian team for the upcoming season, having previously held the position on an interim basis in the winter of 2022/23.

Sutti says goodbye

Expressing his sentiments, Rottensteiner stated, “Saying goodbye is difficult, as it has been a fantastic couple of years with many outstanding results. However, I don’t feel prepared to embark on a new season due to personal reasons.” Considering these circumstances, it is best to step away. Rottensteiner added, “I apologize, but I have realized that this decision is in the best interest of the Norwegian national team and myself.” Rottensteiner will take time before deciding on his next adventure. Nevertheless, given his demeanor, expertise, and immense dedication on and off the slopes, he will likely secure a new job if he desires one.