#didn't know commentators are supposed to shit talk jumpers

[merlesrandomstuff]

The best decision I made this season was watching Skijumping with English commentary for like 99% of the time. And NoCo as well.

[dadlezal]

A Study in Coaching

LONG POST ALERT!

While scrolling through my old posts, I came across those on the Dolezal drama at the end of season 2021/2022. I'll link it somewhere (if I find the will to do so) if you missed this. I remember Kamil saying he regretted his emotional interviews in Planica and felt stupid afterwards. The drama went on for a couple more days/weeks if I recall and ofc Adam Małysz, now chairman of Polish Ski Federation (PZN in Polish), stated that coach Dolezal was offered to continue in his role but he kept leading PZN on, kept being indecisive. And for some reason, men in our country believed Małysz's story, even though he's done and said awful things but they were about women, not them, so ofc they didn't give a shit. I remain skeptical to this day.

If I were to provide a reason as to why Polish "male fans" disliked Dolezal throughout his stay as the main coach, I'd say it was because he wasn't Horngacher. See, Polish men (and not only them but you get it) tend to think that the only good approach to coaching is through aggression. And it doesn't apply to ski jumping only, of course. While I do appreciate everything Horngacher's done for our team, I think he had this aura of a very strict, unlikeable person, with a resting bitch face at that. He rarely talked to any media, he even went as far as to forbid Żyła to talk to journalists - and they were days when he forbade the rest to do it, too. He would often cut off their interviews, even though they weren't long or too releaving. To be fair, Żyła was involved in a scandal including his divorce - it's a long story but it could have been kept quiet had his wife stopped herself from flooding social media with accusatory Instagram posts - photos, videos etc. (There were even rumours about supposed unfaithfulness, first only on Piotrek's side, then on hers, too. But I digress...). I'm not sure how he is now in Germany but I guess he just came to Poland prepared, knowing that the social media frenzy around ski jumping here can be more overwhelming than in Germany. But it was thought he was a very strict, non-compromising coach and ofc men LOVED IT, while majority of "female fans" remained careful with their opinions (ofc, I'm oversimplifying, it wasn't all men and all women). On the other hand, it's during his time when the legendary "BBQ parties" started and he was the one to teach Żyła how to play guitar. As usual in life, things rarely are black&white.

When Horngacher left, Dolezal decided to stay with the team despite a very lucrative offer from DSV and Horngacher's insisting. I'm pretty confident when I say this: within the last decade, Dolezal was the only coach our team had such a strong friendship vibe with. You could see it in the interviews, during competitions, in all off-camera moments, in the small things. They even called themselves "Dodo's mafia" at some point. I personally loved it but many "male experts" in our country were very appalled by this and that's how the gossip was born - that Dolezal had a good first season only because we "ran on Horngacher's leftovers".

I'm not sure how the relationship with Thurnbichler looks like now - many were concerned before it started as the coach is younger than most of our ski jumpers - at least the "prominent" ones. If I were to say on my own, I'd say it's the most distant/professional from all the last four/five coaches. Kamil made a comment, last year, I believe, which many treated as a "nose flick" towards Dolezal's and/or Horngacher's team - that this is the most professional team he has ever worked with. But I don't have a problem with this, not at all.

What I have a problem with is Adam Małysz, unfortunately. In one of the last Eurosport studios, it was suggested that his patience with Thurnbichler is wearing thin. Yeah, the season is looking bad but Thurnbichler was asked to change something around the preparation system and like inventions in any other life matter, this one involved risk and it didn't work out! (The guys had time off right before the start of the season when everyone else was perfecting their technique). Thurnbichler's contract is set to expire in 2026, after the Winter Olympics in Turin but the fact that after a month of bad season Małysz's patience is wearing thin? Ridiculous. Not to mention, he seemed to have chosen Dolezal as his victim - maybe he sensed he was easier to work with than Horngacher, hence additional responsibilities (Horngacher strictly refused to help out our B team and one of the conditions of his contract was focus on the A team - he did have drop-ins at B's trainings and gave a hint or two but refused to overlook two large groups at a time; I think the dislike towards him after his departure was mostly related to the fact that he used our team to improve his resume, make an impression on DSV to be finally accepted as the head coach there) and the CONSTANT PUBLIC CRITICISM! Not only towards Dolezal but towards the jumpers, too! I was surprised to find out that Kubacki is on speaking terms with Małysz because he slandered him in the media on regular basis. Maybe someone smart suggested to Adam that he stop speaking publicly about his discontentment with the results and leave this kind of conversations for closed door opportunities.

The other thing about him - even though he was quick to sack Dolezal and is "running out of patience" with Thurnbichler, he defended Kruczek in his role as the head coach for ladies. Kruczek kept saying that "they would never be good enough to get real results", kept complaining on "their being emotional", their supposed "constant disagreements". They both even went as far as to say the ladies were "too fat" to ever be successful and that they refused to lose weight. Małysz additionally stated (and no, not YEARS AGO, but very recently) that "women shouldn't do sports, especially ski jumping, as it affects their uterus". Yes, that was the shitty excuse men used to ban women from professional sport until very recently (1970', I believe?) and no wonder it came from a man, with no basic knowledge on human biology. When people demanded Kruczek was sacked, he refused to do so, stating it was "the girls' fault, not his". But after many protests from the fans, Kruczek was eventually fired and nowadays, ladies have a new coach, Harald Rodlauer. His position remains untouched, thought, as he said it would take years to fix the damage that was done to the team.

If PZN seriously decides to sack Thurnbichler after this season, I don't know who would be open to cooperation with them. All good coached went through us and probably left traumatised. We can't afford (financially) the best ones like Schuster (who was very eager to work with us but his salary was way over our budget). They all heard about our struggles, they know we have no real "backup", no youth - our jumpers can't even qualify in ContiCup! Many people wanted Tajner out of PZN, hoping Małysz, knowing the environment from the inside, would bring new hope, new light, new ideas and trust for the chairman. Nothing of the sort happened - if anything, he clearly states that he's focused on financing and results and that he won't ask for more sponsors until he sees them.

Anyway. Felt like talking because the constant complaining in the studio gets on my nerves. I'm a fan, too - imagine that! Do I sometimes feel frustrated my favs aren't faving? Yes. Do I keep reminding people how miserable we are every weekend? No. And while results should be the main focus, I think that pressuring everyone involved while giving nothing back is not to way to get them.

[Sorry for all the errors to the two people who will read this post in full]

[coconut-cluster]

okay so all last night i couldn't stop thinking about lociet and your uni au so here are some thoughts i scribbled down in a panic at like one in the morning. i'm not sure when these things were supposed to happen but whatever i just wanted to show you

- the Matilda thing: what if Logan like offhandedly mentions trying to move books off the shelf with his mind when he was a child and Janus has to like. take a minute because that's the most endearing shit ever

- the whole tie thing as well, yes??? Janus already tugs on it anyway but Logan shows up one day tired and frazzled and his tie is just a little loose and crooked and on an instinct Janus reached out and straightens it. and!!! Logan doesn't even like say anything he just stares at him with this tiny smile that's a bit fond and then Janus panics and is like hAha oKaY bYE-

- after the "dictionary debacle" Logan again can't help but admire Janus as he watches him absolutely destroy some poor incorrect schmuck in an argument/debate or whatever

- Janus making a totally hilarious sarcastic comment under his breath where he thinks no one can hear and Logan's desperately trying to keep his shit together but on the inside he's losing it

- this isn't really an idea but like you remember how Logan told Virgil he couldn't imagine debating with any of the other Sides? what about Janus? what would that be like???????

- after the jazz night Janus absentmindedly humming a jazzy little tune and being oblivious to how Logan is staring at him

- one is Logan's favourite jumpers shrinks a tad in the wash but he wears it anyway and Janus literally cannot deal

- I don't remember if you said anything specific about what Janus' usual attire was but like what if he showed up wearing something pastel/light yellow or whatever

- and Logan sees him and immediately goes "you look different" and nothing else

- and it's kinda awkward but then Janus is just kinda is like " |: .... \: .... D: ... D:< "

- and Logan panics and is like !!!! "you, uh, good! you look good......... different!!! a good different" and ALMOST complimented Janus but then like backtracked and half-compliments him, you know??? saying "you look good" and "a good different" are two totally different things

- oh yeah and everyone else is standing there just watching this exchange like 👀👀👀 what the fuck 👀👀👀 but then Logan and Janus immediately are like alright, moving on!

- Another Dawn Another Day Of Denying our Feelings For Each Other, amiright????

- also maybe one day Logan asks Janus what he's reading and Janus is like 😯😯😯 you haven't fucking read this yet????? here's a million book recommendations now or something idk

- and later Logan is looking through them all and is like he listens to me when I talk about what kind of books I like, huh? and didn't really know what to do with that information

and yeah that's all... i also don't write headcanons a lot so this is my first time trying to do it so like i hope this wasn't shit or annoying or something?????? yeah okay bye have a nice day

the way i smiled so hard when i saw this ask, this is incredible thank you so much i love everything here and it is hereby all canon