BACK ON SNOW: MARCEL HIRSCHER’S EMOTIONAL SKIING MOMENTS IN THE ZOETERMEER SKI HALL
Nine months of emotional ups and downs after his cruciate ligament tear, and now: the first liberating turns on snow, three meters below sea level! This week in the ski hall of Zoetermeer, Marcel Hirscher returned to the element closest to his heart. The knee is holding up, and he’s eager for more.
© Benjamin Hoell
Altitude readings with a minus sign are typical for the polder regions of the Netherlands. The SnowWorld ski hall in Zoetermeer lies 52 kilometers from Amsterdam, 20 from Rotterdam, and 3 meters below sea level. “So, the perfect place for a ski comeback,” jokes Marcel Hirscher, but he means it seriously.
“We had the hall all to ourselves, with perfectly controlled conditions, a leveled slope, consistent snow, no surprises. The snow conditions are the same all day long. Exactly what you need to test the knee and the setup.” It’s no secret that he enjoys coming to Holland. Here in the Zoetermeer area, his aunt and uncle live not far from the ski hall, he also spent holidays as a child.
Skiing with kettlebells and first equipment tests
A T-bar lift, 210 meters of indoor slope, 65 meters of vertical drop, the first laps were about regaining the feeling for snow, followed by therapeutic and athletic sessions with dumbbells and kettlebells. And of course, he also tested the latest equipment from his ski brand VAN DEER–Red Bull Sports. Marcel Hirscher:
A very good first outing, with three key learnings. First: the knee shows no negative reaction, which is really great. Second: the joy of skiing remains. Third: the road back to race mode is still long.
Relief after 277 days of recovery
Lesson number four was clear to his support team: Marcel’s big smile while skiing! The relief that this major “Back on Snow” moment went so well was enormous for everyone. ”The weeks, days, and hours beforehand were an emotional rollercoaster, anticipation and tension. Like before a school exam or the last day of vacation.”
Hirscher’s personal summary after 277 days of recovery since his injury in December: “ Nine months ago I was at rock bottom. It was a tough break, but also a valuable learning experience. It was small steps on the way back. I’ve seen others with the same injury and how tough those small steps can be. That’s a part of life experience I was missing until now. I’m especially grateful I never had injuries in my first career. And I take my hat off to everyone who fights their way back after such a setback.”
Next stop on the way back: a real mountain
Despite the successful premiere on snow, Hirscher knows: “This didn’t yet have much to do with the skiing I’m used to. The big question for the future will be: how much risk am I still willing to take, and can I still perform at that level?”
To find the answer, Hirscher will now spend more time on skis. His next stop on the road back? “Still uncertain. Like everyone else, we’re keeping a close eye on the weather apps to see where the next training block can take place. In this phase of the comeback, not only snow but also visibility is crucial. We’ll make the call at short notice, depending on the conditions.”
One thing is certain: after those first turns three meters below sea level, Hirscher’s motivation has received a big boost. “If my knee could talk,” he said, “it would say: thank you for giving me nine months of rest, now it’s time to attack!”