Dear friends, as you've probably noticed, I'm a true outdoor guy. Whether on horseback, biking across alpine pastures or simply unwinding in the Tyrolean mountains – nature gives me all the strength I need for a tough competition winter.

After a longer break I'm back with an update to keep you in the loop. At the end of last season I first needed to switch off and get some distance – and where better to do that than in Scotland? Two weeks of blissful peace – that's priceless! Speaking of mountains: a Tyrolean is always drawn to the peaks, even in his free time. So back home I added a few more days of relaxation – not on skis, but on the back of my horse. Enjoying nature, breathing fresh air and unwinding on long mountain rides in the saddle. That gives you strength and energy for a new season.

The season is over – the World Cup is done. It was a season with many highlights and a few setbacks. The two silver medals in Åre were clearly the peak. At the World Championships it was "back to basics", and that worked straight away.

First of all: thank you so much for keeping your fingers crossed so tightly – it paid off. Of course you go to a World Championships knowing you could come home with a medal, but I was surprised that it worked out in both of my events.