There was something to celebrate in Obergurgl: third place in a turbulent race in which, once again, everything came together for me. The pressure was huge.

With bib number 27 you have to make sure you stay in the top 30. When I crossed the finish line, not yet knowing I’d end up on the podium, I was already very happy. The ski was stable and I could ski my short turns again. That’s when skiing is really fun again. The podium was the icing on the cake and the end of a long dry spell – and, for now, the end of the lack of focus that crept in last year.

It was a year like an emotional rollercoaster. Within a single week came the shocking news that my father had died in an accident, and then the news that my girlfriend was pregnant. Joy and sorrow are often very close together. In March 2023 our daughter was born, and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. She gives me an enormous amount of strength. Now I’m fully back and highly motivated. In the end it’s always about accepting certain situations, and the better you manage that, the faster you get out of a low.

There was a high, on the other hand, with the change of equipment supplier. You never know beforehand whether it will work. In this case it worked out perfectly – the move to Blizzard was exactly right. I was promised my own service man and got a top guy with a lot of experience. We tinkered a lot and found the right recipe. Last year wasn’t only emotionally challenging; it was also the first time in my career that I felt enormous pressure to perform. Now we’re pushing hard together again, and I’m sure we can fight our way back to the top of the world. My head is fresh again and I’m in top physical shape, even if I don’t get quite as much sleep because of Emily. A big thank you here to my girlfriend, who takes on the main responsibility for our daughter, especially during the competition season.

So I’m going into the new season very positive. The next race – Val d’Isère – is on 10 December. It’s a technically demanding race that I always enjoy, and I’ve usually put in good performances and results there. In general, the best and most beautiful thing is when you can deliver your potential in races and bring your skills onto the skis. I’m convinced that will happen quite a few times in 2023/24.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and for always keeping your fingers crossed.
Yours,
Michi