Christian Mayer switches to Fischer skis for two-year contractChristian Mayer will be skiing with Fischer skis next season. The 33-year-old giant slalom specialist and the Upper Austrian ski manufacturer Fischer have agreed a two-year partnership.

Sigi Voglreiter, Fischer Racing Manager, on the Austrian's signing: "Christian Mayer was one of the world's best giant slalom skiers. His career was then hit by injury, but now he wants to give it another go. I am confident that he will make a successful comeback. He certainly has it in him. His first major race will be the qualifier for Soelden. He has a good chance of being among the starters at Soelden."

Mayer's goal: to make it back to the world's elite
With his switch to Fischer, Christian Mayer expects to make it back to the world's very best. "I noticed in the tests that I was better with the new skis. Which is why I expect to make my way back to the top", says the 33-year-old, full of confidence about the future. Mayer continues: "For me the first 'Olympic race' is the qualifier in Soelden in autumn. With my 'injury status' I'll be starting in the top 30. Which means that it's up to me whether I qualify or not." Mayer's knee injury has healed completely. "It's quite a while since I was as powerful and as fit as I am now. I had four to six hours of special knee therapy every day for six, seven weeks. I've already been in training for the new season for around four weeks now. I don't need a holiday, I had plenty of that in winter", says the Carinthian, with a wink.

Factfile: Christian Mayer (AUT)
Born 10th January 1972 in Villach-Finkenstein (AUT). Hometown: Krumpendorf (AUT). Height: 180 cm, weight: 99 kg. Married to Angelika; two children: Dennis (7) and Pia (17). Hobbies: motor sports, golf, fashion, football, computers, music. Major successes: Olympic bronze Giant Slalom Lillehammer 1994, Olympic bronze Combined Nagano 1998, World Championship bronze Slalom Vail 1999, Giant Slalom World Cup winner 1993/94, 2nd place Giant Slalom World Cup 1999/2000, seven World Cup victories (six in Giant Slalom, one Super-G), 26 podium finishes in total.