An unusual path to victory
Greta Steinhauser qualified for the AustrianSkills competition during her apprenticeship at backaldrin by coming second in the JuniorSkills competition. But her path to the title went anything but according to plan. While others trained for months, she only had three weeks of intensive preparation. "I only found out late on that my acceptance had obviously not been properly noted. Luckily, I was able to talk to Erwin Heftberger, a member of the jury, and get everything organised in good time, so I was able to start preparing late, but still managed to do so," says Greta, looking back with a smile.
Shanghai Legends made of dough and creativity
The competition tasks demanded versatility: classic wheat biscuits, creative freestyle baguettes and an artistic showpiece. For the latter, Greta opted for a very personal idea. "I wanted to make something that would be memorable. The inspiration came from my trip to China and with a bit of courage and creativity, my showpiece was born." Under the title "Shanghai Legends", she created the Oriental Pearl Tower, entwined with a dragon. Even though the showpiece focussed on looks, taste was the deciding factor in the other tasks. "You can't be discouraged if something doesn't go perfectly. On the first day, I thought my brioche didn't turn out right, but in the end it was the flavour that mattered."
Training as the foundation for success
For Greta, it is clear that her training at backaldrin was the key to this success. "We not only learn the basics of the trade, but also how important teamwork, initiative and confidence in your own abilities are." Her advice to young talents: "If you believe in yourself and are really motivated, you can achieve impressive things even with little time." Her victory at AustrianSkills has now opened the door to the European Championships. "I'm now looking forward to the training sessions with Erwin Heftberger and Simon Seiler. At backaldrin, I've learnt that you can always get further together, and I'm taking that with me on my journey."
#Congratulations to #schongenial on this schongenial success.
