LEVI-LOVE: MARCEL HIRSCHER'S TRAINING ON YESTERDAY'S SNOW FOR A SIMPLE SLOPE THAT IS SO DIFFICULT

Very emotional: more beautiful than expected

Is what Marcel Hirscher replies when asked how his successful comeback in Soelden (23rd place, third-best run time in the 2nd round) has woven into his heart project. Meeting former colleagues and experiencing what it feels like to push himself to the limit again after five years has been an enormous gift for him.

After all the excitement and uncertainties beforehand, he then experienced a new quality directly at the start: “In the past, this nervousness was unbearable. This time I thought: What is this really about? We all ski red and blue, each as fast as he can - but actually, it’s about nothing. A few dozen ski racers pursue their passion, a few million people enjoy it - being able to be part of it again is a privilege. As a racer, skiing is the most important thing for you. AND: there are children, relationships, friends, health - what really counts in life. Now, which is new, I see this bigger picture and it makes the whole thing different for me.” Great motivation comes from this fundamental feeling, describes Marcel Hirscher of his weeks since Soelden.

MAGIC OF THE FAR NORTH: “I TAKE AWAY EVERY IMPRESSION I CAN GET”

He travels to Levi knowing that “with very high probability, this will be my last time racing there.” Six years ago it was different. When he celebrated his last of three Levi victories in 2018 (with a lead of 0.09 seconds over VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports teammate Henrik Kristoffersen), “I didn’t know it would be my last race for six years.” And since Levi is “not necessarily on my holiday to-do list for the next few years, I want to take away every impression I can get.” Marcel makes no secret of his love for Levi: “A ski race 135 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle is too remote for masses of spectators. Personally, I think that’s what makes the races there so special: the nature, the northern lights, the silence. Lapland is home to Santa Claus for a reason. I like the family-like atmosphere, the way locals share their culture with us through reindeer, wolf dogs, igloos, and their traditional clothing. And what a beautiful symbol that winners are godparents to a newborn reindeer.” He would have loved to take “his” reindeer home with him, but their home is their home - so he will visit “Ferdl,” “Leo,” and “Mr. Snow” in their home if time permits.

BACK TO ZIGZAG: THE CHALLENGE OF THE SIMPLE "LEVI BLACK" SLOPE

“Back to Zigzag”: Marcel Hirscher is looking forward to his return to the slalom slope “Levi Black.” With a vertical drop of 180 meters, it is once again part of the World Cup tour this year and also celebrates its 20th anniversary as a venue. “This race makes the World Cup more complete! Everything looks so easy there, but precisely the easy slopes are the most difficult to ski fast.”
He doesn’t measure the quality of his preparation in quantities: “Not the same athlete Marcel Hirscher is traveling to Levi as in the past. We had a few great training days under World Cup conditions at the Kitzsteinhorn and the Reiteralm. Much fewer gates than before, but I am convinced that I couldn’t have trained anywhere with higher quality. Like Sölden, Levi is a benchmark for where I am athletically after the extremely long absence. I am continuously making small progress in material and skiing, and I am satisfied with that. Now I see how it goes in the slalom.”

LEVI TRAINING IN THE "SKI LIVING ROOM" - ON YESTERDAY'S SNOW

For Marcel Hirscher, all this is part of the journey he has gifted himself with, one on which he now sees many things differently. “The slalom training at the Kitzsteinhorn: childhood memories came alive there. It’s incredible how the glacier has changed over the years and impressive how advanced the officials are in dealing with these changes.”

At Reiteralm, Marcel Hirscher was given a truly unique setting for his Levi training: “Imagine a strip of snow winding through an autumn forest—it’s a bit surreal at first. But this is more than just snow; it’s a glimpse into the future of our sport. Snow farming and upcycling have made incredible progress. My partners at Reiteralm managed to preserve 70 percent of last winter's snow, which would have melted anyway, and laid it back out for us. And now, here I am on my favorite training ground, where I’ve made countless turns in slalom. They even recreated the same waves and transitions typical of Levi. I’m deeply thankful to everyone who helped make these high-quality training days in my ‘ski living room’ a reality.”

On Friday, Marcel Hirscher travels to Levi, with a snow training session planned for Saturday.