Marlies Raich about her husband: “Benni was scared”

When a video surfaced a week ago that… Marlies and Benjamin Raich slalom skiing showed, the waves rose. Should follow Marcel Hirscher and Lindsey Vonn the next sensational comeback initiate?

The two ski stars a. D. actually dared for the first time in almost ten years in racing gear on a slalom slope.

KURIER: Can you actually forget how to ski slalom in ten years?

Benjamin Raich: I was a bit nervous about whether I could still do it and whether I could manage the turns.

Marlies Raich: Benni was afraid that it would shoot him in the back. That’s why he wanted to score as few goals as possible.

Benjamin Raich: At the beginning I thought to myself: film quickly and be done. In the end there were definitely ten runs. I never did that when I was training.

Marlies Raich: I’ve noticed that you quickly become fanatical again.

They used to be the best slalom skiers in the world. How much time would you lose today?

Benjamin Raich: On a simple slope that wouldn’t be that much. I think we can get within three seconds. But on a World Cup slope that is really icy, things get difficult. You then need the appropriate strength and body tension.

After this experience: Would a comeback be conceivable?

Marlies Raich: I would be very interested in driving in the winter. The next day, when I got up, I realized that it was too late. My back especially hurt.

Benjamin Raich: It was similar for me. To do what the top people do, you need extreme preparation. At my age that would no longer be possible. To be so lively, so fresh – at 46 you just can’t do that anymore. At Marlies it would be even more possible. The respect for the people who come back is all the greater.

Can you understand that Marcel Hirscher and Lindsey Vonn are celebrating a comeback at the age of 35 and 40?

Benjamin Raich: Especially now that we’ve tried it out again ourselves, I can understand that you’re licking blood and finding pleasure and fun in it again. In the case of Marcel Hirscher anyway, he retired as a very fit driver.

Marlies Raich: And he always trained. I can understand that they want to try it and take on this special challenge to create something great. For Lindsey Vonn in particular, the story with her knee and the partially replaced knee joint is even more special. I hope everything goes well because it’s not safe.

The risk in speed races is much higher than for Marcel Hirscher, who only competes in slalom and giant slalom.

Marlie’s sign: Exactly. And she is also a very risky runner. Vonn always pushed himself completely to the limit and regularly crashed into something.

Does skiing need this publicity?

Marlies Raich: It’s definitely exciting. If you saw what was going on at the start in Sölden – that was certainly due to Marcel. People think: How can this work? Where do they end up in the end?

Benjamin Raich: Such stories do not harm any sport. Since the summer I have been constantly asked: What do you say to Hirscher, what is Braathen doing? The comebacks are good for skiing.

What do you think of Hirscher’s performances so far?

Benjamin Raich: When he quit, he was definitely the best. It’s not easy to be out of the World Cup for five years. Hirscher also had a hard time; in Levi he was fourth from last, although he had quick turns at times.

Marlies Raich: And if the top four people weren’t eliminated from the giant slalom in Sölden, then he probably wouldn’t have been in the second round.

Benjamin Raich: In the end the air is already thin. A lot has to be right for Marcel Hirscher to win. I generally think it will be more difficult for him in the slalom.

And what do you think Lindsey Vonn can do?

Marlies Raich: Personally, I believe that their big goal is the 2026 Olympic Games in Cortina. She loves Cortina and has won there many times. I think that’s their top priority. Especially when you know how important the Olympic Games are in the USA. She can do a lot, but it will be difficult because the risk she has to take is enormous and there is also a lot of competition.

The season is four races old: How do you rate the ÖSV team’s performance?

Marlies Raich: A podium in Sölden, a podium in Levi – the women got off to a great start. This is important for the entire team and gives good vibes. I think that Katharina Liensberger once again showed a very relaxed and relaxed side on the skis. There’s a lightness there again.

Benjamin Raich: I really liked the men’s performance in the giant slalom in Sölden. Stefan Brennsteiner was traveling very quickly until he retired, but he will reach the finish at some point. It was similar with Manuel Feller. The result of the slalom in Levi wasn’t that good. But I don’t see black.

They won their first race when they were 20 and 22. Where are the young stars today?

Benjamin Raich: The Norwegians show that it can be done. I have the opposite opinion to Alpine boss Herbert Mandl, who said in an interview: They can’t do anything. We have a lot of young people who drive very well.