Marcel Hirscher
Starting shot in Sölden! Marcel Hirscher evades the question of his favorite at the start of the World Cup. The former dominator reveals his trick.
At the weekend, the time has come: the ski season opens in Sölden. The World Cup stars compete in the former parade discipline of Marcel Hirscher: the giant slalom. Since his resignation two years ago, it has been the ÖSV problem discipline.
That should change in the future. Also because the technicians were usually ahead in the battle for the large crystal ball. So does Hirscher. He won the overall World Cup eight times in a row. Giant slalom and slalom were his main competitions.
Who could succeed him as World Cup dominator? Last year the Frenchman Alexis Pinturault took the overall victory. Marco Schwarz finished third as the best Austrian. The speed specialists Matthias Mayer and Austria's athlete of the year, Vincent Kriechmayr, finished seventh and eighth.
But: Hirscher also has a lot of confidence in the world's best downhill skiers. In an interview with his sponsor Audi, he does not want to commit to any names, but reveals: “In my eyes, anything is possible this year, I don't see a clear favorite. In both camps – whether on the speed or the technical side – there are certain athletes who who have the potential for the big crystal ball. The coming season will certainly be very exciting. “
For everyone who wants to follow in his footsteps, he has a tip ready – his recipe for success: “Live the topic one hundred percent every day, every minute and use every second to develop further.”
It sounds so easy. And yet, according to Hirscher, it is the key on the way to the absolute top. As soon as you lean back, the competition catches up, according to the message of the 32-year-old. Hirscher: “I performed according to this principle for over 12 years, it was very intense, but luckily it was also successful.”
Incidentally, the double Olympic champion does not lean back in retirement either. He now gives a lot of gas even without skis, preferably on a motorcycle. In the summer he broke his leg in a fall at an enduro rally. Now he's back in the saddle, racing fearlessly over rough terrain.
In his private life too, things are bumpy for the father of two. After twelve years together, Hirscher recently announced that he had separated from his wife Laura. The two diverge on the good side and don't want to go into details. As is well known, Hirscher keeps his private life as secret as possible.
In public, he currently prefers to promote his new heart project. At the beginning of October, Hirscher announced the founding of his own ski company “Van Deer”. He allows his expertise to flow into the development of the skis, from which racing drivers and hobby skiers alike should benefit. His goal: “These skis will win world cup races.”
It won't be that far in Sölden. No World Cup rider has yet officially announced a collaboration with “Van Deer”.
