Worlds profiles: For Buechel, there's nothing like a beer after a race

AT 38, Marco Buechel is not only the pride of Liechtenstein but has seen and done a lot more than most of his fellow world championship competitors, some of whom are half his age. Some of his rare accomplishments include a silver medal in the 1999 worlds giant slalom in Vail, Colorado, four World Cup victories including a super G win on the ominous Kitzbuehel course and a Cup podium dating back to 1998 (a GS in Park City, Utah). But you know what really makes Marco happy? A nice cold brew. He had a few more amusing things to say in between world champs downhill training at Val d’Isere.AT 38, Marco Buechel is not only the pride of Liechtenstein but has seen and done a lot more than most of his fellow world championship competitors, some of whom are half his age. Some of his rare accomplishments include a silver medal in the 1999 worlds giant slalom in Vail, Colorado, four World Cup victories including a super G win on the ominous Kitzbuehel course and a Cup podium dating back to 1998 (a GS in Park City, Utah). But you know what really makes Marco happy? A nice cold brew. He had a few more amusing things to say in between world champs downhill training at Val d’Isere.

As the only racer here at the world championships who sampled this hill in the 1992 Olympics, what about this venue has stuck in your memory?

I was scared; that I remember. I don’t remember too much more. It’s just too steep. It is kind of scary, but I was more scared then than I am nowadays.

Do you have anything special you tell yourself at the start gate?

I tell myself that I’m a man and I can do it. I have to tell myself this.

What are you doing when you’re not on skis?

Riding my Harley [Davidson]. That’s my favorite thing … taking my wife on the backseat and just riding around.

What’s the first thing you like to do following a race?

Drink a beer. Every time. Do I drink in the finish area? If I have one on hand … yes, please. Otherwise I go back to the hotel and drink it. I love to drink a beer after races. I don’t have a preference. If I have enough time, I’ll take a wheat beer, but it’s hard to pour a wheat beer into a nice glass at the finish area, so any beer will do.