Petra Vlhová and her new coach Mario Rafetzeder training on the Mölltaler Glacier, credit: Petra Vlhová
Many fans were excited to see Petra Vlhová back in the Olympic start gate more than two years after the injury that led to two knee surgeries.
Now, the Slovak star is entering another new phase in her comeback.
According to the Slovak newspaper Sport and a post on Vlhová’s Instagram page, Mario Rafetzeder will join her team as head coach. The 2022 Olympic slalom champion and 2020-21 overall World Cup winner is training fully again as she prepares for a return to the World Cup circuit.
“I am happy that I can once again build my team and surround myself with people with whom I will fight to return to the World Cup,” Vlhová wrote on Instagram. “I look forward to working with everyone on my team, and I believe Mario is the right leader to help us compete again with the best skiers in the world.”
Can Petra Vlhová and new coach Mario Rafetzeder lead one of skiing’s biggest comebacks?
The Austrian coach, who spent the last two years working with the Fearless Finns, said he is eager to help guide Vlhová back to the top level of the sport.
“I thank Ski Team Petra Vlhová for the opportunity to be part of the team, a team that has already achieved great success,” Rafetzeder said.
“I appreciate the chance to help Petra on her way back to the absolute top of the sport. There is a lot of systematic work and many new opportunities ahead of us. I believe that with the support of our entire team and the great Slovak fans, we can gradually achieve those goals together. Keep your fingers crossed for us.”
Why did Petra Vlhová choose Mario Rafetzeder as her new coach?
Rafetzeder played a key role in Eduard Hallberg’s breakthrough 2025-26 season, during which the Finnish skier earned the first three World Cup podiums of his career. The former Austrian and British coach now takes on a new challenge with one of alpine skiing’s biggest stars.
Richard Galovič, manager of Ski Team Vlhová, said the organization is excited about the new partnership.
“By hiring the renowned Austrian coach Mario Rafetzeder, we have completed the construction of our team for the 2026-27 season,” Galovič said. “Petra personally chose the new head coach, and I believe he will bring not only a new training methodology, but also a refined training concept that builds on the positive experiences of the experts who have worked with Petra for many years.”
“At the moment, we have agreed to a one-season partnership, but we all believe in long-term and successful cooperation.”
Vlhová, a two-time World Cup slalom champion and one of Mikaela Shiffrin’s biggest rivals, now appears ready to continue her comeback after two and a half years away from World Cup racing.
Ski Racing Media wishes Vlhová a successful return to the World Cup circuit.
About the Author: Darka Sefcik Starnova
