Featured Image: Marcel Hirscher racing in Levi World Cup. Credit: GEPA
Marcel Hirscher, a skiing legend and eight-time World Cup overall champion, made a highly anticipated return to slalom racing in Levi, Finland, on Sunday. Now representing the Netherlands, his mother’s native country, Hirscher faced a tough challenge on the icy slalom course. Despite his reputation as one of the sport’s all-time greats, he finished 46th, falling short of a second run by 0.64 seconds and ending the day 2.59 seconds behind the leader.
“I thought the first few gates would lead to something great,” Hirscher said during a post-race interview with ORF. “But it quickly turned into one of the worst slalom runs of my life.” He described the run as a chore, far from the performance he had hoped to deliver.
Like many others on the icy surface, Hirscher struggled with his ski setup, using Van Deer skis, the brand he launched after retirement. Reflecting on the experience, he acknowledged the challenge, saying, “Many top athletes had problems. Such bare ice is almost a bit new to me. It felt like a fight for survival—almost embarrassing.”
Although the result in Levi fell short of expectations, Hirscher maintained a positive perspective. “We’ll take back great memories of beautiful days, the reindeer, and the far north,” he said with a hint of humor. However, he clarified that adjustments must be made on Sunday before the season’s next slalom in Gürgl, Austria. “Now the phones will be ringing off the hook about what we’re going to do next—where to train and what the conditions will be like.”
Hirscher will auction off his Levi race suit to support Austrian Sports Aid. The auction benefits charity and runs until November 20. Bidders can access it at www.the-mountain-studio.com.
About the Author: Peter Lange
