Austrian-Swiss rivalries

The World Cup downhill on Sunday showed once again how exciting the “international battle” between Austria and Switzerland can be in the Alpine Ski World Cup.

11. February 2025

By: christof.thöny

At the end of a dramatic race, a young Swiss star, Franjo van Allmen, won ahead of an established Austrian (Vincent Kriechmayr). Bernhard Russi, Swiss Olympic champion in the downhill in 1972, had bet on his young compatriot Alexis Monney, who won the bronze medal. In an interview with the author in 2022, Russi emphasized how great he found the Austrian-Swiss rivalry, even if the best friendships were developing among the runners.

His rivalry with Austrian Franz Klammer around the 1976 Winter Olympics is legendary and was the subject of a 2021 feature film created by Andreas Schmied entitled “Klammer – Chasing the Line,” which achieved a market share of 32 percent when it was broadcast on public television in Austria.

Bernhard Russi in the special exhibition in his honor at the Ursern Valley Museum. © Christof Thöny

In recent decades, television has played a major role in creating the "national battle" between Austria and Switzerland in alpine ski races. To this day, it is a fact that alpine ski racing is more important in these Alpine countries than in any other country. Nowhere else do the audience ratings - live or on television - reach similarly high levels. The foundations for the popularity of this sport were laid decades ago, starting with the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz.

fascination with skiing

In the 1980s and 1990s, it was a matter of course in the two Alpine countries to watch alpine ski races on television. Even at school, many hours were spent watching races like the one in Kitzbühel together. In family circles, there was some jealousy about the Swiss successes, as these were times characterized by stars like Michaela Figini, Vreni Schneider, Maria Walliser, Franz Heinzer and Pirmin Zurbriggen.

In those years, Austria was eagerly awaiting a successor to Karl Schranz, who had been the only one of his countrymen (with the exception of Marc Girardelli, who competed for Luxembourg) to win the overall World Cup. At least the women's race saw numerous successes around 1990 with Petra Kronberger, the legendary Ulrike Maier, Anita Wachter and other runners. From the winter of 1989/90, Austria won the Nations Cup again after a few years.

Ski legend Karl Schranz (right). © APA / R. MEIDL

It remained that way for the next 30 years, which brought great satisfaction to ÖSV President Peter Schröcksnadel. From the late 1990s onwards, the ÖSV men enjoyed a great era, associated with names such as Hermann Maier and Stephan Eberharter. The 2010s, on the other hand, belonged to Marcel Hirscher, who was able to reach new dimensions with eight overall World Cup victories.

For about five years now, Switzerland has been setting the tone in the Alpine Ski World Cup. In the past five years, it has won the national rankings four times. The most influential athlete of the present is Marco Odermatt, born in 1997, from the
Canton of Nidwalden, now Super-G World Champion from Saalbach.

Marco Odermatt is one of the best skiers of all time. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

He is now the most successful Swiss skier of all, as Pirmin Zurbriggen had celebrated 27 victories by the time he retired at the age of 40. Odermatt's current dominance is impressive, as he leads not only the overall World Cup but also all disciplines except the slalom. His fourth overall World Cup victory in a row will hardly be taken away from him.

A team effort

What is also striking, however, is the numerous other Swiss successes in the last races, in which both established athletes such as Justin Murisier and Thomas Tumler as well as young talents such as Alexis Monney and Franjo von Allmen were able to attract attention. These are the ones who made Swiss ski fans cheer at the World Cup downhill. The duel between the two Alpine countries will certainly also ensure excitement in the remaining World Cup races.