Following a civil wedding in her hometown of Garmisch, Germany on Thursday, World Cup overall champion Maria Riesch and her new husband/manager Marcus Höfl continued celebrating their union Saturday (April 16) at a religious ceremony in Going am Wilden Kaiser near Kitzbuehel, Austria.
   
Family and friends, including Riesch’s German Ski Team teammate Felix Neureuther and soccer great Franz Beckenbauer, gathered in Tyrol for the hour-and-a-half ceremony before the 26-year-old Reisch, and Höfl headed to their honeymoon in the Seychelles.

Notably absent from the event was Riesch’s longtime friend and fellow racer, American Lindsey Vonn. 

Though quotes from Riesch saying she had not heard from Vonn have circulated around the European press, a Vonn spokesperson has confirmed with Ski Racing that the Vail, Colo. native had sent a personal note informing Riesch that she would not be there.

Speculation about the friendship hitting rough waters began at the end of the 2011 World Cup season as Riesch dethroned three-time reigning champion Vonn by only three points.

The World Cup’s most dominant duo have been friends since meeting at the Junior World Championships. Riesch also missed Vonn’s 2007 nuptials while the former was training in South America.

Riesch, a five event skier has announced that she will use the name Höfl-Riesch starting next race season.

Some information for the story was provided by the AFP.