Lines Beyond the Finish Line

Time passes just as mercilessly as the hundredths of a second that once decided victory or defeat in ski racing. That makes it all the more wonderful to experience what we have always loved with former competitors. It’s no longer about the fastest time; it’s about shared moments and an unwavering passion for skiing. Forty years after my first visit to Lenzerheide, for the first European Cup downhill race of my career, I am trying to remember the course. A lot has changed. The mountains are still there, as is the joy of setting out early on skis. My former competitive spirit has given way to the pleasure of sharing untouched slopes with friends. And there are plenty of those around Lenzerheide!

It’s late February, and we’re on a ski touring road trip in our camper vans. Joining us is Florian Eckert, one of the few German medalists in downhill skiing. Florian and I share not only a background in downhill skiing, but also some intense ski tours together, which has developed into a wonderful friendship. His racing career ended after a complicated knee injury, but his love for skiing remains. After two intensive hikes in the Lechtal and Allgäu Alps, we want to explore the mountains between Lenzerheide and Arosa, where the BACKLINE test will take place in two weeks. It’s foggy, there’s no sign of fresh powder. Most people would stay in their motorhome. Floh is different, which is why I enjoy traveling with him so much.

His eyes light up with motivation, and he is in good spirits, no matter what the weather. For two days, we refresh our orientation skills in the fog, traverse from Lenzerheide to Arosa, joke about the inclement weather and discover new possibilities off the beaten slopes. Two weeks later, on the penultimate day of the BACKLINE Test, I stand in a col south of the Älplihorn (9,304 feet) with fifteen testers, once again enveloped in fog. Instead of dropping toward Arosa, we head for Piz Danis (8,192 feet) in the afternoon and ski down a steep east couloir. Among the testers are three former racers who now spend more time on touring skis than they ever imagined: Andrea Limbacher, Florian Eigler and Simon Stickl.

Each of us shares different memories from our Ski Cross World Cup days. But there is one parallel that fits us all: after their racing careers, they all discovered fat skis and

untouched powder slopes – and with them, a passion that has no expiration date. When Andrea Limbacher became Ski Cross World Champion in Kreischberg, I was responsible for my first World Championships as race director. She won by mere centimeters. After a serious knee injury, she fought back to the top and ended her career only two years ago. She is still a wild one on skis. Simon and I shared a room at the Olympics in Vancouver. He could be my son. We haven’t been rivals on skis for a long time now; instead, I enjoy sharing my passion with him – a proud father himself – on a few trips every year. In addition to several joint heats in ski cross, Florian and I have been on many ski touring trips together.

His father, “Auge,” and I used to ski downhill together, and Florian has been involved in BACKLINE tests from the very beginning. Whenever his professional career permits, he is always ready to hit the slopes on days with fresh powder. Now, I’m once again standing in the col south of the Älplihorn, my telephoto lens ready. Across the valley rises the steep face between the Parpaner Rothorn East Peak (9,498 feet) and the Aroser Rothorn (9,777 feet). It is perfectly set: eight inches of fresh snow, bluebird skies and each skier choosing their own line. Simon is first, linking bold arcs through the 45-degree

slope. My enthusiastic laughter almost drowns out the sound of the camera shutter. Andrea chooses a line between rock ledges, navigates the key section with full control and cries out with joy. Floh aims for a narrow gully, then bursts into a wideopen slope. When I catch up with everyone, adrenaline and good spirits are palpable. Everyone is laughing; Lenzerheide has delivered. On this day, we are all winners, each of us writing a new chapter in our skiing history. The racing mentality has long been left behind in the finish areas of past careers. That’s all old snow now. Tomorrow’s fresh powder draws their gaze forward – and deepens the lines of laughter across their faces. Ride fRee. sleep smaRt.