Hirscher Goes Dutch, Discusses Upcoming Return To Competition In Press Concerence

At the end of April, the sensational news, and now the countdown is on: In August, Marcel Hirscher wants to return to ski racing five years after his retirement as an "Austrian skiing for the Netherlands" and "Racing Test Pilot" for VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports. He revealed why he wants to do this, where he currently stands athletically, and what he plans for the multitasking trip to the New Zealand winter at a media meeting in his motherland, Holland.

Two days before the opening of the Olympic Summer Games in Paris. 400 kilometres away, in front of SnowWorld in Zoetermeer, the ski hall with the steepest indoor slope in Europe, Marcel Hirscher speaks for the first time extensively about his personal motivations and plans regarding his return to racing in the truck of his ski company VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports.

During a press conference hosted by Maarten Meiners, former Dutch skier, Marcel Hirscher shared his exciting plans for the upcoming season and the reasons behind his return to the slopes after a five-year hiatus. The former champion opened the press conference in Dutch, greeting journalists with a smile and expressing his enthusiasm for this new chapter in his career.

Meiners introduced his potential successor, Marcel Hirscher, who is three years older than him, with his track record: 67 (World Cup victories) – 12 (crystal globes in giant slalom and slalom) – 8 (consecutive overall World Cup victories) – 7 (world championship titles) – 2 Olympic gold medals. Two different skiing careers, a shared passion that connects. Both are now in professional life, Marcel Hirscher is the founder and co-owner of the outdoor label The Mountain Studio and the ski company VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports, and Maarten works for a Dutch bank.

He made the decision to return to ski racing on a gut feeling after his birthday on March 2, Marcel Hirscher says: "There wasn't much time to think because of the official reporting deadlines! Thanks to my mother, I am an Austrian-Dutch dual citizen, which made the best solution possible for everyone: As an Austrian skiing for the Netherlands, I don't take resources away from young ÖSV athletes and, conversely, I might be able to contribute something to skiing and the ski youth here in Holland, as well as to the connection between both countries through winter tourism."

Hirscher is very much looking forward to "a few races for my motherland, after having raced so many for my fatherland in the past." Nevertheless, he is cautious with the term "comeback": "A comeback for me is when someone – for example, after an injury break – wants to continue where they left off. My career has been over for five years, I am 35 years old, I have two children, two companies: Unlike before, now ski racing has to fit into my life – and not the other way around." The analogy: "You can imagine my situation as someone who is fully engaged in life and decides to run a marathon as well." Accordingly, time management is demanding to include training alongside all commitments – without the support from his private and professional environment, Hirscher emphasizes, his project would simply be unfeasible.

How is his project developing? "I am quite satisfied with my physical fitness: Strength and endurance training are much easier to integrate into everyday life. Of course, there's a lot missing in skiing: In spring, I managed to get some snow training, but hardly any after that because it was too warm." This is about to change soon. On August 9, Marcel Hirscher will fly to New Zealand with a small team to the winter, to fulfil what he calls his "Do it yourself lifelong dream." "I always wondered what it would be like to ski race with my own, self-developed equipment. Until a few years ago, that was an illusory dream and now it seems to become a reality."

Marcel Hirscher travels to New Zealand in a multitasking role to combine his professional task as "chief tester" for VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports Equipment with the joy of racing. "We are at an important stage in the development of our equipment, which will have an impact on the setup philosophy. In such phases, every meter on snow counts for testing! On the one hand, to support the race team with Henrik Kristoffersen, Timon Haugan, Fabian Ax Swartz, and Aleix Aubert Serracanta, and on the other hand, to make the innovations available to customers as quickly as possible. Because that's what we are here for: High-end material for everyone!" In New Zealand, Marcel Hirscher hopes for good conditions: "I am extremely looking forward to testing and training – and if I feel it makes sense, also to one or the other race." In mid and late August, two slalom and giant slalom races are scheduled in Coronet Peak: "At least for the second event, I plan to be at the start of a ski race again."

The decision to return came about unexpectedly. "Around my birthday, I didn't yet know that I was going to make a comeback."

The decision accelerated after Braathen announced his return, and Hirscher saw an opportunity to participate in a few races while taking deadlines into consideration.

The change of nationality, from Austria to the Netherlands, is a notable aspect of this return. Hirscher clarified that he didn’t want to take a spot from a young Austrian athlete and preferred to embark on a passionate project with the Netherlands.

"After racing 99% of my races for my homeland, it’s nice to do 1% for the motherland" Marcel commented, referencing his connection to the Netherlands, where his mother is from.

Unlike a simple "comeback," Hirscher views his return as a new adventure. "I don't want to pick up where I left off. I just want to enjoy and participate from time to time."

He emphasized that it's not about regaining past performances but reconnecting with the joy of skiing.

Hirscher also talked about his ski brand, Van Deer, and his ongoing passion for the sport. "I wanted to stay in the world of skiing in some form or another," he said, highlighting his desire to continue developing the sport while participating in races.

For the upcoming winter, Hirscher plans to train in New Zealand with a small team before tackling a few races. "I’m curious to see what it will be like to wear a bib again," he admitted. He is excited to return to competition while being aware of the challenges ahead.

The press conference also revealed a more personal side of Hirscher. "My life is busy, but it's beautiful," he shared, emphasizing the importance of his family and his two companies.

"Skiing is now a part of my life, but I'm no longer focused on winning hundredths of a second. I just want to have fun."

In conclusion, Marcel Hirscher isn’t looking to relive his past glory but to write a new chapter filled with passion and memories.

Within the space of two years, alpine skier Marcel Hirscher went from being relatively unknown on the professional scene to well and truly establishing himself as the undisputed king of the slalom slopes.

Between 2007 and 2009, Marcel enjoyed much success in the slalom, GS and Super G events at the Junior World Ski Championships, claiming a series of podiums that included three gold medals, two silvers and a bronze across all three disciplines.

As he approached his late teens, Marcel began setting his sights on the senior circuit. The transition was tough and he suffered some heavy defeats at the hands of his older, more experienced rivals. But all that changed in 2012. Something just clicked and he went from taking 15th place overall in the 2011 FIS World Cup to winning the championship in 2012.
Marcel won the overall title again in 2013 with six victories, including claiming the salom title and runner-up spot in GS. He scored a total of 18 podium finishes out of 19 races in the two technical events.

These successive victories meant he became the first male skier to defend his overall World Cup title since fellow Austrian Stephan Eberharter in 2002 and 2003.

Marcel then went on to take the overall FIS Alpine Ski World Cup again in 2014 and successfully defended his title in 2015, topping his season off with first place rankings in the slalom and GS as well. He continued his skiing dominance throughout 2016 and 2017 with more titles across the slalom and GS disciplines, all while amassing enough points to secure two more overall World Cup crystal globes.

Then, in 2018, he put in another series of powerful displays throughout the season to score his fifth GS and slalom titles and become the first skier ever to win seven overall titles . On top of that, Marcel also claiming two golds in Pyeongchang 2018.

The records didn't stop there. In December 2018, Marcel became the most successful Austrian ever on the World Cup circuit (overtaking Annemarie Moser-Pröll's mark of 62 wins) and eclipsing Ingemar Stenmark's calendar year win record, with an amazing 14 victories.

The 2018-19 season saw the now familiar trio of titles for Marcel, as he wrapped up the slalom and GS disciplines early, before taking an eighth overall title to equal Lindsey Vonn's record of 20 total FIS crystal globes.

Then, in September 2019, aged just 30, Marcel announced his decision to walk away from ski racing at the peak of his powers in order to focus on new challenges. He certainly didn't put his feet up however.

As well as starting his own high-performance skis brand, VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports, Marcel's also takenon all manner of motorsports challenges, including riding MotoGP bikes, racing all manner of cars and even taking on the world's toughest hard enduro race, the legendary Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, showing no little talent for brutal two-wheeled competition.

The pull of competitive skiing never truly left the all-time great however and in April 2024, Marcel shocked the skiing world by announcing his comeback after five years away – and, thanks to his dual national status, for the Dutch National Ski Federation