“We all just cried”: Hofer completely taken by surprise

Hofer is aware that his life as an athlete has been different since last Saturday. The victory in Piancavallo already brings him into new focus at the parallel giant slalom in Rogla (Wednesday), even though it is a different discipline. It shouldn't be a problem for Hofer: In the European Cup this year he finished in the top 11 in six parallel giant slalom races, and he also feels comfortable with wider goal gaps. No extensive cheering Hofer showed a cinematic coolness in his debut victory in Piancavallo, but also the next day in the team event together with Lucia Dalmasso (4th place). Even when he crossed the finish line first in the final, the 24-year-old remained surprisingly calm. Arms spread wide apart was the only reaction. No screams, no incredulous, exuberant cheers. Rather, he seemed to be in a trance state.

“I'm generally not a person who shows great emotions. In addition, I was completely calm at the moment I crossed the finish line. It felt like an FIS race, I didn't realize anything. It was only later, after all the congratulations and when the anthem was played, that I had to take a deep breath. But even then I was still somehow distant.”

Marc Hofer looks back on the last few days. © Marc Hofer

Only two more episodes showed the Saltaus native that it wasn't a dream, but reality: “For one thing, my cell phone was going crazy. When I got to the hotel room after the award ceremony, I saw how many messages there were. I was shocked at who had written and talked to me about everything." And the second: "Someone from the organization told me that I had to write them an email with my bank details so that they could transfer the prize money to me. That would have been the last thing on my mind.” Hofer received 11.250 Swiss francs (around 10.900 euros) for his victory. This amount is officially prescribed by the FIS; around 30 percent of taxes are still deducted. “I was pumped with adrenaline and even thought about going to the bar again.” Marc Hofer Celebrating big was out of the question for the Malser Sports High School graduate: “The coaches gave me the option of whether I would rather enjoy my victory on Saturday or whether I would like to start in the team event on Sunday. But I really wanted to be there.” Marc Hofer still celebrated with his teammates. “We toasted in a village bar in Piancavallo. I was in bed at 23 p.m., but there was no thought of sleep. I tossed and turned until 3 a.m. I was pumped full of adrenaline and even thought about going to the bar again. But it was closed anyway,” he said with a laugh.

The Hofer family.

The debut victory in the World Cup was not the first highlight of the last week for Marc Hofer. He received a call a few days before from Davide Carrara, head of the Carabinieri sports group in Val Gardena: “He informed me that a place was being created for me and that I would definitely be included in the sports group.” A family affair Marc Hofer, who started snowboarding as a little boy in Pfelders, was initially a boarder crosser and then became a parallel specialist out of respect for the jumps and waves, also thought of his parents. Father Raimund is a caretaker at the luxury Hotel Andreus, mother Marlene is a waitress at the Quellenhof. “Nobody spoke on the phone call after my victory. We all just cried.” It’s also understandable: the father was president of the snowboard section at SC Passeier, and his son Marc Hofer was the only snowboarder in the club. “He always supported me, always looked out for me. Even when I was under the wing of Gert Ausserdorfer at the sports high school in Mals.” That’s another reason why the Passeiertal is his main sponsor. “My father arranged that too.”

In addition to the World Cup in Rogla, Hofer's focus is also on the European Cup final at the same location, which takes place on Thursday. He leads the overall standings before the last race with 563 points ahead of the Austrians Matthäus Pink (509) and Dominik Burgstaller (472).

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“We all just cried”: Hofer completely taken by surprise

After the sensation, the next challenge awaits: Marc Hofer, winner of the parallel slalom in Piancavallo, will be challenged again on Wednesday. The next World Cup race is taking place in Rogla (Slovenia). He couldn't really enjoy his success.

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