The first course was set in an interesting way with a flush followed by a hairpin - very cool and exciting.  It is possible to ski such a combination from both sides.  It was interesting to see if everyone had the nerves and knew how to ski through the gates as there were really many gates on that hill ;-)

Wearing bib Nr. 6, I crossed the finish line with 59 hundredths of a second off the winning pace.

In retrospect, my first run was a bit strange. I really did not know if I was skiing fast or not. The snow was a bit ‘smeary’ and little response came back from my skis. I was thus under the impression I was doing better than I actually was.

I was in ninth position going into the second run, which was set in a more turny fashion in the bottom section of the race than the first one.

Lars Elton Myhrer, who started ahead of me, threw down a great run. I started with a lead of 11 hundredths over him but already at the first split I had lost my narrow margin. Taking full risk and skiing at the limit in the last steep section of the course, I crossed the finish line with the second fastest intermittent time, 0.44 behind Myhrer.

At the end of the race, I finished just off the podium in fifth. I am still pretty satisfied with my performance here in Vancouver. A fourth place in giant slalom and fifth in slalom – had it been World Cup races, those would have been great results. ;-)

Ok – the next three Olympic Games can come, I am ready ;-))

Thanks to the whole Team, thanks to my fans – you all would have deserved an Olympic gold medal just for keeping your fingers crossed and supporting me.

Best regards from Whistler

Your Marcel

 

P.S. Congratulations to Giuliano, Ivo and Andre for taking the medals!

Today, things got serious. It was my first Olympic event.

Together with 102 other athletes, I was at the start of the giant slalom. I opened up the race with bib Nr. 1 - that was pretty difficult for me. I don't really like to be the guinea pig.

During inspection, I realized one thing right away, namely that the first difficult section was at the third gate. Here you have to make sure you don't lose too much speed, because after the compression the course is flat and tends to go even a bit upwards.

My first run was then unfortunately a bit too "solid". Although pretty good, but far from perfect. I ended up fifth. I already did well at previous races starting fifth after the first run, so why should it not work again this time?

My motto for second run was to take full risk. After a first mistake in the upper part I knew that I had to really hurry up to still make it. But when I was second in the finish by 3 tenths of a second behind Kjetil Jansrud, I knew that I will not take home a medal today.

In the end I finished fourth. Carlo Janka took the Olympic title, silver went to Kjetil Jansrud and bronze to Aksel Lund Svindal. All three athletes really deserved to win a medal and I congratulate them wholeheartedly.

Fortunately, the weather stayed relatively stable throughout the race and it didn't start to rain until after the race. I hope the weather improves or else I will get a bit nervous for the slalom.

In any case, the fourth place really motivates me to give it my best for the slalom and to fight for a medal!

Thanks again to my team, my supervisors, coaches and service team, my dad and a big thanks to my fans, who support me also many thousand kilometres away from home.

Keep your fingers crossed for the slalom on Saturday. I will go fast.

Best regards

Actually, talking for myself they should have not cancelled Adelboden since I got second there *smile*

Of course I put myself under pressure after the provisional result in Adelboden. It looks like I need this kind of pressure. Of course, you also need perfect preparation with my own coaching staff, my dad and perfect material.

In the first run that was set by Florian Raich, I caught an edge briefly at the hight of the slalom start. The rest of the run was without major mistakes. In the second run, I had a good feeling from the very beginning. I had a good rhythm. Once I was a bit direct in the middle part of the course - but I already knew during the run that I is going to be good. It is really great here in Kranjska Gora to show what is possible.

I am already excited for the next couple days!

Thanks for keeping your fingers crossed - don't forget to also do it tomorrow and the day after ;-)

Best regards
Marcel

The positive thing first:

The spectators were phenomenal - a sea of flags, bengal fire, trumpets, cheers - you hear your own name through the helmet - unbelievable. I am lost for words.

Schladming for me is the most important race right after the Olympics. It is basically my home race - just a stone's throw away from me. That is why you want to show the best of you. Since I went out the past couple years, I really wanted to finish this time and be on the podium.

For me, it is really tough if I cannot show what I can really do and what I was prepared to do. But today's performance was really not satisfactory.

Next week-end in Kranjska Gora I will once again give my best and grab the ticket to the Olympics.

A short analysis of the first run:

Extremely close to the gates, first intermediate time .43 behind, steep section 1.36 seconds behind - unfortunately I skied on my edges too long and had too much direction going into the next gate. The result then was that I was 2.50 seconds out of the lead after the first run.

How was the second run?

With 7 hundredths of a second cushion and in 18th place after the first run, I ventured into the second run. But already in the first intermediate split, I was behind by 18 hundredths. Again, I carved out my turns too long so I was out by .31 seconds in the second intermediate split. Taking full risk in the final section, I clocked the 5th fastest time in the second run being behind .56 seconds, which meant the third fastest time overall when I got to the finish.

At the end, the time was good for an eleventh place finish.

Congratulations to Reinfried Herbst, Silvan Zurbriggen and Manfred Pranger for their great performances today.

And big time congrats for the specatators - the best spectators in the world!

Best regards
Your Marcel

Yesterday I was really happy with my (first) run in the giant slalom. After some mediocre races before I finally made it to the finish again..and not only that but I also finished in second place. It was a real satisfaction to see that I can still do it ;-)) A real pity that it was so foggy and the race had to be cancelled.

And then today was definitely sensational. You have to have experienced the atmosphere and vibe in Adelboden once. The whole finish area is boiling and bursting at the seams. It is almost like in Kitzbuehel or Schladming.

Exactly this exhilarating atmosphere really drove me down the hill in the first run, in which I posted the sixth fastest time. Then I risked it all in the second run and it paid off this time. At the end of the race, the number ‘2' was written in front of my name. Aweeesome!!!! I did not think I could pull it off in slalom. This is absolutely great. Congratulations to the winner Julien Lizeroux.

Thanks also to my OESV coaches, my dad, the whole ATOMIC-team - this is how things can go on in the future.
And a big, big thanks to all my fans - next week-end we will see each other again in Wengen.

Cheers

Your Marcel

Already during inspection it was obvious that today's first run will be fast...actually very fast. The course setting was brutally straight, especially in the flat middle section.

After ‘Herbstl' (Reinfried) had a great first run, I entered the race right after Mario Matt with bib number 15.

I attacked fully again but the luck was not on my side this time. In a left turn, my ski tip hit the gate and I straddled - DNF. Unfortunately.

I am already over it in my head - from now on I fully concentrate on Adelboden!

Thanks to all the fans for keeping your fingers crossed - and happy belated New Year 2010!

Regards

Your Marcel

It was actually nice...

The course was set in an interesting fashion, the piste was in perfect condition.

Unfortunately I was too close to one of the gates - and straddled - DNF. Too bad...

But now the Holiday season is just around the corner.

I wish you all Happy Holidays and a blessed festive season!

Once again, I would like to thank everyone for the support!

Your

Marcel

Finally the hard work and preparation paid off!

Honestly, I was pretty nervous after the first run. I have never before been in first position heading into the second run. I have only experienced this feeling of heading the field from the Europacup races - and that is definitely not the same as in World Cup. Blardone, Baumann, Schörghofer, Raich, Svindal - they were all behind me - in this case only one motto holds true: ‘Complete attack!'

‘Little one, go full speed' were my last thoughts at the start. And then you only need to implement what you memorized and told yourself to do during the inspection. And to be honest (but do not mention it to anyone) - at the end I almost run out of energy ;-)

Right now, I cannot really comprehend it all - I have to let it sink in to realize what happened today in the snow of Val d' Isère.

What a race - just fantastic!

Thanks dad, thanks ATOMIC, thanks OESV, thanks Raiffeisen - but most of all:

Thanks to all the fans!!!

Your completely overwhelmed Marcel