Marcel W. Perrin (text) and Sven Thomann (photos) from Alta Badia
It really is gigantic. In his fourth giant slalom, Marco Odermatt (24) celebrated his third win of the season in the discipline. This is in the “Gran Risa” in Alta Badia, next to the “Chuenisbärgli” in Adelboden, the biggest classic of the alpine circus.
If you don’t know well, meeting the winner can give you the impression that Odermatt won not the World Cup race, but at most the club race in Hergiswil.
Even after his eighth World Cup victory, Marko didn’t spit out any big tunes, instead showing a lot of humility. This very realistic situation can also be traced back to the story of the man who was the last Swiss winner in Alta Badia until yesterday – Daniel Albrecht (38).
Albrecht Yemin Udermatt
The Valais team triumphed on December 21, 2008 on this particularly selective slope against Croatian Ivica Kostelic. Less than four weeks later, his career ended in a terrible fall during downhill training on “Streif” in Kitzbühel. “Examples like Daniel Albrecht show that everything is possible in the sport every day, at every race, from a great victory to a serious injury,” Udermatt says.
Albrecht watched Marco’s latest concert at his home in Fish. “Odermatt reminds me a lot of my best times,” he told Blake. “His driving style is not different from mine. Plus, he handles as easily as I was back then.”
Maurice shows the eggs
After finishing seventh on Sunday, Justin Maurizier ended up sixth on Monday – although he was careful in the first round. “Fortunately in the first inning, I remembered why I was third on that slope last year. I showed the Whites really down a very steep slope! Then I did it in the second round.”
If the 29-year-old hadn’t made a blunder in indoor skating soon afterwards, he might have stood on the podium alongside his friend Udermatt. Justin and Marco regularly share a room at the skating circus. “Marco suits me perfectly. Although he is German-Swiss, he is as relaxed as Wilcher. Now he speaks French very well. You can say that his parents raised him well.” These parents – who and Prisca Odermatt – and their daughter Alina see Marko’s victory live on site.
After finishing seventh on Sunday, Justin Maurizier ended up sixth on Monday – although he was careful in the first round. “Fortunately in the first inning, I remembered why I was third on that slope last year. I showed the Whites really down a very steep slope! Then I did it in the second round.”
If the 29-year-old hadn’t made a blunder in indoor skating soon afterwards, he might have stood on the podium alongside his friend Udermatt. Justin and Marco regularly share a room at the skating circus. “Marco suits me perfectly. Although he is German-Swiss, he is as relaxed as Wilcher. Now he speaks French very well. You can say that his parents raised him well.” These parents – who and Prisca Odermatt – and their daughter Alina see Marko’s victory live on site.
Unfortunately, the slackening from Albright to Alta Badia turned out to be a certain stiffness. “Suddenly I only thought of Quszbühel. I really wanted to win there. This led to the fact that I took it very quickly on this fateful course.”
Albrecht, who now owns Mondhaus GmbH, gives advice on the road to his successor: “Marco does not have to study at all before the next race. Its shape and coordination of materials are quite suitable. In principle, all he has to do now is drive and have fun.”
Just like on Monday. Although he clearly feels high on expectations before the start, he’s pretty cool about the competition. He made it to the finish line by a full second, ahead of world runner-up for Italy and Michel Gisin’s friend Luca de Alibrandini.
“I am very fortunate that I can handle the high expectations of skate enthusiasts and I so well,” Odermatt asserts. The 24-year-old is also mentally strong as he has been in the field for years with the former World Cup contestant and Erika Hess’ cousin Monica Wiki Hess.
However, there are moments when “Odi” provides food for thought for his streak of success: “It won’t make the next few years more relaxing for me, because I only expect to win!”
Ski lovers watch out! Now take a quiz and write in skate racing
The 2021/2022 ski season really begins, and with it the newly launched “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions, write ski races and crown yourself a ski champion. Numerous prizes are waiting for you.
To participate in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, watch out for the cup icon on the mobile and desktop version or go directly to skitrophy.ws.blick.ch.
Have fun and good luck!
The 2021/2022 ski season really begins, and with it the newly launched “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions, write ski races and crown yourself a ski champion. Numerous prizes are waiting for you.
To participate in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, watch out for the cup icon on the mobile and desktop version or go directly to skitrophy.ws.blick.ch.
Have fun and good luck!