At the end of April, the sensational news, and now the countdown is on: In August, Marcel Hirscherwants to return to ski racing five years after his retirement as an “Austrian skiing for the Netherlands” and “Racing Test Pilot” for VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports. He revealed why he wants to do this, where he currently stands athletically, and what he plans for the multitasking trip to the New Zealand winter at a media meeting in his motherland, Holland.
Two days before the opening of the Olympic Summer Games in Paris. 400 kilometres away, in front of SnowWorld in Zoetermeer, the ski hall with the steepest indoor slope in Europe, Marcel Hirscher speaks for the first time extensively about his personal motivations and plans regarding his return to racing in the truck of his ski company VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports.
The questions are posed by Maarten Meiners, the last skier to start for the Netherlands in the World Cup and World Championships. Meiners introduces his potential successor, Marcel Hirscher, who is three years older than him, with his track record: 67 (World Cup victories) – 12 (crystal globes in giant slalom and slalom) – 8 (consecutive overall World Cup victories) – 7 (world championship titles) – 2 Olympic gold medals. Two different skiing careers, a shared passion that connects. Both are now in professional life, Marcel Hirscher is the founder and co-owner of the outdoor label The Mountain Studio and the ski company VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports, and Maarten works for a Dutch bank.
A Gut Decision
He made the decision to return to ski racing on a gut feeling after his birthday on March 2, Marcel Hirscher says: “There wasn’t much time to think because of the official reporting deadlines! Thanks to my mother, I am an Austrian-Dutch dual citizen, which made the best solution possible for everyone: As an Austrian skiing for the Netherlands, I don’t take resources away from young ÖSV athletes and, conversely, I might be able to contribute something to skiing and the ski youth here in Holland, as well as to the connection between both countries through winter tourism.”
Starting For The Motherland
Hirscher is very much looking forward to “a few races for my motherland, after having raced so many for my fatherland in the past.” Nevertheless, he is cautious with the term “comeback”: “A comeback for me is when someone – for example, after an injury break – wants to continue where they left off. My career has been over for five years, I am 35 years old, I have two children, two companies: Unlike before, now ski racing has to fit into my life – and not the other way around.” The analogy: “You can imagine my situation as someone who is fully engaged in life and decides to run a marathon as well.” Accordingly, time management is demanding to include training alongside all commitments – without the support from his private and professional environment, Hirscher emphasizes, his project would simply be unfeasible.
Lifelong Dream “Do It Yourself”
How is his project developing? “I am quite satisfied with my physical fitness: Strength and endurance training are much easier to integrate into everyday life. Of course, there’s a lot missing in skiing: In spring, I managed to get some snow training, but hardly any after that because it was too warm.” This is about to change soon. On August 9, Marcel Hirscher will fly to New Zealand with a small team to the winter, to fulfil what he calls his “Do it yourself lifelong dream.” “I always wondered what it would be like to ski race with my own, self-developed equipment. Until a few years ago, that was an illusory dream and now it seems to become a reality.”
Ski Upgrades In New Zealand
Marcel Hirscher travels to New Zealand in a multitasking role to combine his professional task as “chief tester” for VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports Equipment with the joy of racing. “We are at an important stage in the development of our equipment, which will have an impact on the setup philosophy. In such phases, every meter on snow counts for testing! On the one hand, to support the race team with Henrik Kristoffersen, Timon Haugan, Fabian Ax Swartz, and Aleix Aubert Serracanta, and on the other hand, to make the innovations available to customers as quickly as possible. Because that’s what we are here for: High-end material for everyone!” In New Zealand, Marcel Hirscher hopes for good conditions: “I am extremely looking forward to testing and training – and if I feel it makes sense, also to one or the other race.” In mid and late August, two slalom and giant slalom races are scheduled in Coronet Peak: “At least for the second event, I plan to be at the start of a ski race again.”
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