He is second on the record list with 54 World Cup victories trailing Ingemar Stenmark (86) but ahead of Alberto Tomba (50) and Marc Girardelli (46). This makes him Austria’s most successful skier ever. Four times did Maier place on the podium in Gardena-Gröden but a victory remained elusive. In downhill he placed bronze in 1998 and 1999, in the Super-G bronze in 2003 and silver in 2004. Some years ago Maier shared his thoughts with the online editorial team of Gardena-Gröden: “I might not have clenched gold on the Saslong, yet, but I am convinced that I can win with just a few more training runs. It’s unfortunate that last year’s downhill (2000) did not take place because I was in excellent shape and well prepared to master the jumps at high speed. I would have placed well. The section I like the most is the large “S� right after the start and the subsequent Mauer. And then there are the Camel Humps. They are what determines the race.� The World Cup in Gardena-Gröden along with its many spectators will miss this extraordinary talent and wishes Hermann Maier all the best for his future endeavors hoping to welcome him back to Gardena-Gröden soon!