Death Of Paul-André Dubosson, Vreni Schneider’s Coach Announced

Paul-André Dubosson was so important to Vreni Schneider that she couldn't imagine continuing her career without him. Now the Valais native has succumbed to cancer at the age of just 66.

They called him "Duboss" – the boss's name is evident in his nickname. But before Paul-André Dubosson was promoted to head of the Swiss technical team in 1992, he spent four years as assistant to Paul-Henri "Polet" Francey. In the first winter with the two Valaisans, Vreni Schneider, the team leader, won the overall World Cup, World Championship gold in the giant slalom, World Championship silver in the slalom, and 14 World Cup races in the combined event – ​​a record that wouldn't be broken until 30 years later by a certain Mikaela Shiffrin.

"Two people from Lower Valais and I, the woman from Glarus, who barely spoke a word of French – the fact that they spoke German with me was crucial to making it work so effectively," says Vreni Schneider today. "We understood each other with just a few words."

"Golden Vreni," the Swiss athlete of the century, has had a turbulent few days behind her: The day before the Federal Wrestling and Alpine Festival, a Glarus event of the century, began in Mollis, Paul-André Dubosson passed away. The day before, she had visited him again, and the day after, as a dedicated ESAF ambassador, she participated in the grand parade with her ski school. Vreni Schneider had to overcome her grief.

Thirty years have passed since, within weeks of the 1994/95 season, first Paul-André Dubosson retired, followed by his star athlete. "Without Duboss, I won't ski a corner anymore," Schneider had said several times – and she stuck to her word. She had won the overall World Cup for the third time in a dramatic duel with Katja Seizinger – and one month later, she declared her career over with complete conviction.

"I had sensational coaches – and Duboss was the best," says Vreni Schneider in an interview with Swiss-Ski. "Whenever I was warming up, thinking about how great the others were and how insecure I felt, he sensed it immediately – no matter how hard I tried not to let it show. Duboss came to me, gave me a quick pep talk – and he had already convinced me that I could win. Whether it was true or not, he said I had the best warm-up. After all, he had seen me, while I couldn't see myself." In terms of organization, Dubosson was always one step ahead of his fellow coaches. "That was his greatest strength."

After retiring from skiing, Paul-André Dubosson worked for several years as sporting director of FC Sion – football was his second sporting passion. Starting in 2000, he spent twelve years as a doping control officer at Antidoping Switzerland.