Hermann Maier

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Hermann Maier : biography

7 December 1972 –

On 18 January 2008, Maier finished second in the Kitzbühel’s Super-G. His career results in the Super-G races at Kitzbühel are the best in history (7 races: 5 wins and 2 second places). The following day, Maier finished fifth in the downhill. These were his best results of the 2008 season.

On 30 November, 2008, Maier won the first Super-G of the 2009 season, held in Lake Louise, for his 24th Super-G win. It was his 54th World Cup victory, but the first in nearly three years, and came a week before his 36th birthday. It was Maier’s fourth victory in the Super-G at Lake Louise, the last coming five years earlier.

On 13 October 2009, after 13 years competing in the World Cup circuit, 36 year old Hermann Maier announced his retirement., 13 October 2009

Video

  • – Hahnenkamm (full course) – 9th place – 24-Jan-2004
  • – 1998 Olympics – Nagano downhill (crash) & giant slalom (2nd run) – gold medal

Besides skiing

Maier also won an all-around sports competition, the 2001 edition of the American Superstars competition and he frequently acts in TV adverts for his sponsor bank Raiffeisen.

Early years

Hermann Maier did not initially enjoy much success in ski racing. As a 15-year old at the Schladming ski academy, he was sent home after being told he wouldn’t succeed because of his slight build, caused by growth impairments. He returned home to his hometown of Flachau and his father’s ski school, which remains Maier’s home. He took up work as a bricklayer in the summer and a ski instructor in the winter.

Participating in local races, Maier became a multiple regional champion in Salzburg and Tyrol, but still was not able to gain a spot in the strong Austrian World Cup ski team. Putting that behind him, his outstanding talent was recognized for the first time by Austrian coaches on 6 January 1996, when he was timed with the 12th fastest time in a World Cup giant slalom in Flachau, although only starting as a forerunner, not participating in the actual competition. This would become the starting point of his international career.