Simon Vicenzi is happy with Stephanie Venier. © private

A young South Tyrolean is Venier’s goldsmith

Austria is celebrating its great gold heroine: Stephanie Venier redeemed her nation on Thursday with the Super-G World Championship title. A South Tyrolean played a decisive role.

07 February 2025

From Saalbach-Hinterglemm

Whether on the breakfast radio, on the front pages of newspapers or in social networks: Stephanie Venier is omnipresent in Saalbach-Hinterglemm these days. She enchanted the whole of Austria with her surprising world championship title in the Super-G. The North Tyrolean could hardly believe her luck after the “best ride of her life.” And she quickly identified the key to success.

“I just felt good and had a fast ski,” said Venier in an interview with APA. The latter quality in particular is due to her service man Simon Vicenzi. "We work together perfectly. We trust each other one hundred percent," Venier says, singing the ski man's praises.

Stephanie Venier in the flash of cameras. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

The special thing about the whole thing: Vicenzi is from South Tyrol, or more precisely from Ulten. And at 23 years old, he is one of the youngest ski groomers in the World Cup. Since last summer, the guy from St. Gertraud in Ulten - who himself competed in FIS and youth races until 2019 - has been looking after the skis of Venier, who relies on Head material.

A very modest Ultner

Although Vicenzi is only 23 years old, he already has a lot of experience. He started his career as a serviceman five years ago. At that time, his Ultner compatriot Manuel Gamper brought him into the Canadian women's ski team. Via Switzerland, Vicenzi ended up at Head and Venier, who he put the golden skis under her feet on Thursday. He says very modestly in an interview with the Dolomites: "The snow conditions were not too complicated. It was the driver who made the difference."