Vali Höll: Riding the Edge

Vali Höll: Riding the Edge

From Frodeno Going Mental by Jan Frodeno, Podstars by OMR

March 30, 2026 · 1h 1m

About this episode

Vali Höll discusses the mental challenges of downhill racing and her experiences with pressure and team bankruptcy.

How does a world champion handle the "terrible" feeling of the start gate? Downhill star Vali Höll joins Jan Frodeno to discuss the raw reality of racing at 80 km/h. From pre-race nausea and "survival mode" to navigating her team’s sudden bankruptcy , Vali reveals why she thrives under the pressure that makes her want to puke. It’s a candid look at the "handbrake" in her head and the mental shift required to stay at the top. Enjoy the episode! Ryzon offers high-performance, fairly produced endurance apparel for triathletes, cyclists, and runners. The brand is globally recognized for combining technical innovation with a clean, timeless design. Use the code “ATHLETE10” to save 10% at Ryzon (valid until May 31, 2026). More: ⁠⁠https://ryzon.net/en-int/discount/ATHLET10?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_term=goingmental.folge5 PILLAR Performance provides science-backed, clinically dosed micronutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Their supplements focus on optimizing recovery, sleep, and immunity without unnecessary fillers. If you want to give it a try, use the code GOINGMENTAL at pillarperformance.shop — or, for North American listeners, at…

People in this episode

Host: Jan Frodeno

Guest: Vali Höll

Topics covered

  • downhill racing
  • mental health
  • sports pressure
  • team bankruptcy
  • performance
  • endurance sports

Keywords

  • downhill racing
  • Vali Höll
  • Jan Frodeno
  • sports psychology
  • endurance athletes
  • performance pressure
  • team bankruptcy

Sponsors

Ryzon, PILLAR Performance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: TheFeed.com, megaphone.fm

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