Christmas as a skier – that’s different

Today the slalom skiers have their last appearance before Christmas Eve on the Gran Risa, and at the weekend they will continue with downhill and super-G in Bormio. The slalom skiers don't care, they can take a breather until the night race on January 8th in Madonna di Campiglio. But Marco Odermatt is not to be envied.

Yesterday, after his 27st World Cup victory, the 41-year-old patiently answered questions from the media and fans in the finish area of Alta Badia, as always. Then it was back on the six-hour journey home to Beckenried, a district of the municipality of Buochs on Lake Lucerne, 450 kilometers away. Without his parents Walter and Priska, mind you. They followed their son's World Cup races in Val Gardena and Alta Badia on site and are also spending Christmas in South Tyrol before heading straight on to Bormio.

Ski star Marco Odermatt. © ANSA / ANDREA SOLERO

His son Marco, on the other hand, is spending two days at home with his partner Stella Parpan. The aspiring doctor is currently doing an internship and cannot watch the ski races on site. Odermatt has to return to everyday World Cup life on December 2th. There is the journey for the speed races in Bormio, and on St. Stephen's Day the first training session is scheduled on the most demanding course in the Speed World Cup.

Odermatt's Marathon in the Car From Odi's home on Lake Lucerne to Bormio and back in the Alps it is "only" 300 km, but almost all of it is on mountain roads and takes around 5 hours to drive. Of course, Odermatt occasionally gets to enjoy a helicopter flight provided by his main sponsor. With 2 training runs, the Super-G, the downhill in Val Gardena and the giant slalom in Alta Badia - all within 6 days - this is more than understandable.

Dominik Paris spends Christmas at home. © APA/afp / MARCO BERTORELLO

Domme Paris is almost at home there. The man from Ulten started his journey home on Saturday after the Val Gardena descent and is just looking forward to "opening a good bottle" on Christmas Eve. "This will allow me to wash down the frustration of Val Gardena and at the same time relax for Bormio," he said with his inimitable humor. But the same applies to Paris: on Christmas Day he has to say goodbye to his family, including his partner Kristina and his boys Niko and Lio, and head off to Bormio.

The riders from overseas don't even go home. Before her time with Aleksander Aamodt-Kilde, Mikaela Shiffrin celebrated Christmas several times with Manu and Manfred Mölgg in St. Vigil. From there she went on to Lienz or Semmering, where the next women's World Cup races are scheduled after Christmas.

Ski family Platter in Mals as Christkind The Platter ski family has also been a permanent guest in Mals in the upper Vinschgau for many years. Canadian speed skiers such as Brodie Seger, James Crawford and their teammates celebrate Christmas there. "We give the boys a sense of security. And they wash whatever the washing machine can take away all day long," laughs Agneta Platter, who was a trainer for the Canadian men's team for many years.

As a Swede, she serves Julbord, a Swedish Christmas table. Meat, Christmas ham, salmon and herring are served on a buffet, providing plenty of calories. Exactly what ski athletes need. Agneta Platter: "It is much more important to give the athletes a feeling of family idyll far away from home. Even if only for a few hours. In the spirit of: Merry Christmas - but only for a short time."

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Christmas as a skier – that’s different

Anyone who decides to become a ski racer must know that there is no talk of a “happy, contemplative and peaceful Christmas season.” The diary of editor Andreas Vieider.

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