April 24th: The day that shocked the world
Marcel Hirscher, the world's greatest alpine racer, has set an incredible record, winning the World Cup eight times, the World Championship seven times, and two Olympic gold medals. He retired from the FIS racing scene in September 2019, leaving behind many legendary achievements, but has now announced his return to racing after a five-year hiatus
The news that "Marcel Hirscher is returning to racing!" was announced on April 24th. It was picked up as top news in various European media outlets, including Kronen Zeitung, the most widely read newspaper in Marcel's home country of Austria, and the news quickly spread around the world
The YouTube video above is just under a minute long and was produced by a media outlet based in Vienna, Austria.It is in German, so it is difficult to understand the details, but just watching the video conveys Marcel Hirscher's brilliant career and his presence as a superhero, and it also conveys how big an impact his return to active duty will have
Here is a partial explanation from a news article posted by online media on April 24th:
"The information from the Kronen Zeitung and all the Austrian media over the last few hours has, needless to say, been amazing: the eight-time World Cup winner is preparing to return to the racing scene (with his brand Van Deer, of course)
The 35-year-old Salzburg star has expressed his intention to return to competition, aiming for the 2025 World Cup in Saalbach, Germany, but to move to the Netherlands, his mother's home country, and as a Dutch athlete. Marcel doesn't want to take away his former Austria teammates' dreams of glory and their spots. He needs permission from his federation to return with a different sports passport. According to ORF TV, Ski Austria is expected to announce its intentions later today. This will be explosive news
Now, let's take a look at the message he posted on Instagram!
[Translation]
Hi everyone, it's Marcel. I felt like I needed to say something too. Lots of things have been reported in the media, but yes, I'm going to be back into ski racing, and I'm really happy about that. Why am I doing it again? For me, it's pretty clear: the joy of skiing is what drives me. I've been away from the racing scene for the past five years, but I'm just going back to my favorite place, where I've always been, and just having fun. I'm really happy about that, and I'm really excited about what the future holds.
And the consultations with the Austrian Ski Association and the Dutch people were very good. We all think that it would be a good idea for the Dutch Ski Association to make this project a reality, and that it would not be difficult at all. And what's very important to me is not to take away valuable resources from young Austrian skiers. I want to protect their dreams of glory and their position. The future belongs to young people. For me, at 35 years old, this decision is very clear, and I believe it is necessary for the development of young skiers and the future of ski sport in Austria
And I believe we can do a lot for the Dutch Ski Association. I'm also grateful that this project is possible thanks to my dual citizenship. So I'm really looking forward to what's to come, especially since we started "VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports" two years ago, and I remember*1how successful Henrik Kristoffersen*2had a fantastic season last year, so I'm really happy to be able to compete in FIS races with them again. And I might even be able to take advantage of this great opportunity to train with Lucas Braathen*3. I think it's a really cool and great opportunity to pursue my passion and bring out the best in myself.
I've competed in 247 races so far, but I'll continue to do my best quietly and passionately for my country and for my passion. I'm looking forward to sharing beautiful moments with all of you who support me. Have a great summer. Until next winter! Ciao!
Marcel Hirscher
*1 Henrik Kristoffersen: A Norwegian slalom skier who has won numerous medals in the World Cup and World Championships. He signed with Hirscher's "VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports" in June 2022 and stood on the podium 11 times in SL/GS during the '22-23 season.
*2 Tim Hermann Haug: A German racer who competes in FIS races in both high-speed and technical events.
*3 Lucas Braathen: A young Norwegian racer who has been competing in the World Cup since 2019. He has frequently stood on the podium since the '20/2021 season, including a victory in GS. His technique and competitive ability have attracted worldwide attention, making him a cutting-edge racer.
Hirscher was a hot topic on STEEP with the "VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports" skiing!
At STEEP, we've just been hearing about the Japanese debut of Marcel Hirscher's hand-developed skis, the VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports, which will be available in March 2024. We've reported on the news that Kleb Sports, a pro shop in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, will be handling official sales in Japan, as well as the first user test ride event in Japan. Along with these skis, Marcel Hirscher's activities will likely attract a lot of attention in Japan
