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Hermann
Maier enjoys life in Adelboden
Adelboden is a special place for Hermann
Maier, the most successful racer on
the World Cup tour. A three-time winner
here form 1998 to 2001, the Austrian
enjoys competing on the traditional
“Kuonisbergli” giant slalom
slope which requires instinctive and
precise skiing. A year ago, on January
13th, the double Olympic champion
achieved a spectacular comeback in
this event 18 months after his dramatic
motorcycle accident from August 2001.
He clocked the 31st best time in the
first leg and failed to qualify for
the second run. Yet he was just glad
to be again competing after being
a suffering patient for over a year.
On Friday afternoon, Maier joined
other top champions on the main square
to attend a special ceremony honoring
former winners of this established
World Cup “Classic”. His
foot-prints were taken by the organizers
who will put them on a big rock which
will eventually carry the names of
all the skiers having triumphed in
this competition created in 1955.
This unique “Rock of Fame”
will include most of the big names
of the sport from the past fifty years.
Maier is quite proud to be part of
the legend of this race. “It’s
a nice idea, I’m happy to belong
to this group of top-champions having
excelled here,” he said earlier
in the morning after free-skiing on
the treacherous course.
“I hope I will be able to achieve
a better performance this year,”
he added with a grin. “I’m
very moved to be back here. A lot
of things happen to me since my last
race on this slope. It’s very
emotional for me. In 2003, I was just
happy to be a normal ski racer again.
I came here without a precise goal;
I just wanted to compete and have
fun.”
“Then my form improved suddenly
from one race to the other. I scored
my first points a few days afterwards
in Wengen, and two weeks later I surprisingly
won a race in Kitzbühel. And
this year I’m back here as the
current overall World Cup leader –
having already clinched the super-G
title last week. It’s really
amazing for me. In fact, I reached
unbelievable goals in the past twelve
months. I’m really surprised!
What ever comes now is a bonus for
me.”
A good result on Saturday would dramatically
reinforce his chances for a fourth
overall title – but Maier doesn’t
think too much about the World Cup.
Yet this is what makes it even more
dangerous for his rival!
“I’m very happy now and
in a perfect position for the rest
of the season,” he admits. “There
is no pressure on me, I can take a
lot of risks in the coming weeks.
I feel free to ski the way I decide
on race-day because the overall title
was not my main target this winter.
This is a comeback season for me.
My giant slalom was fine at the season
start despite a lack of training but
then I struggled in Alta Badia after
the Val Gardena speed events. I trained
well this week but I think it will
take some time until I recover my
best rhythm in this specialty.”
In a way, Hermann is approaching this
race with the same relaxed attitude
than last year. His main motivation
is to enjoy another strong moment
in this very special place where another
successful career started for him
a year ago.
“I’m looking forward for
a great race on Saturday. The crowd
is wonderful here and there is always
a superb atmosphere in the finish
area. The people are doing a great
job here to promote the sport. It’s
good for the World Cup. I missed it
a lot when I had to rest and it’s
so nice to be back here.”
Patrick Lang
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