The Slovenian holds the points record in the overall World Cup. Nine years after her last race, Maze talks about why her skiing career almost cost her her love affair.
Enjoy your life without professional sport: Tina Maze now works for Eurosport as a ski expert.
Jean-Christophe Bott / Keystone
It is the first time in 36 years that Switzerland could win the overall World Cup for both women and men. How do you rate the performance of Marco Odermatt and Lara Gut-Behrami?
At the start of the season in Sölden I was asked who could win the big ball. I said: With Marco it’s pretty clear to me that he will continue to drive at this level. He doesn’t have motivation problems like others do after winning a ball or two. He just enjoys skiing.
And what did you predict about women?
That Lara could have a great duel with Mikaela Shiffrin. I’m very happy for Lara. She is different than before. She was very open-minded and communicative, but when you’re available for so many things, you lose time for yourself. She learned that. She uses all her energy for herself and sport. It is the right way. I can only congratulate this long career with all the changes – to her, to the team, to the family.
There were an extraordinary number of injuries in the World Cup this season. You said throughout your career that skiers pushed themselves beyond their limits. Is this what is happening now?
In my opinion the focus is in the wrong place, not just in skiing, but in life in general. Performance becomes less important. We stare at our phones, are constantly connected, email and text, and it all takes up so much valuable time. Beforehand, we used this time to think about the day, for example: What was good, what can I do better? That happens less today. For me, this is the main reason why so many mistakes happen, not just in sport, but also in traffic. Losing focus while skiing is risky. My performance dropped by 20 percent after I started using a smartphone.
Was that a feeling or measurable in values?
It was more of a feeling. Maybe I’m very sensitive in this regard, but I felt it. As a skier, I was very honest and strict with myself. This is how I noticed when I wasn’t at 100 percent. For example, if it was foggy or I had watched TV for a long time the day before, read comments on social media and thought about new posts. Using these channels takes a lot of time and energy. Athletes today are both digital creators and athletes. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but once you start doing it, you think about it constantly.
Even without social media, you had an intensive career; you competed in all five disciplines at the time. How did you manage to never be seriously injured?
For me there were three factors: Firstly, I was lucky that my parents and grandparents passed on strong bones to me. Secondly, I was afraid of falling. That simply wasn’t an option for me because you never know what will happen. Other riders accept crashes as part of the sport. But I preferred to drive slower and with less risk. And thirdly, I was physically strong, so even if I fell once, nothing would happen. We invested a lot in physical preparation and prevention.
You were still often physically at your limit, and you could see that in the finish area. How did you manage this mammoth program?
Those who are physically in good shape recover faster. It was also possible for me to compete in all disciplines because I had been doing it for a long time. The only time I really struggled was at the 2015 World Championships in Vail because it was so high up (note: the finish was at 2700 m above sea level). With all the training, the program was brutal over the fortnight. During the combined slalom run, I had the feeling for the first time that I was out of breath, similar to the dry training when I had to run 300 meters up to eight times. That was always the hardest training for me, I felt like I was going to die. But it was also the most effective.
Do you think your eleven-year-old record of 2,414 points can be beaten? Not even Mikaela Shiffrin has managed this yet.
It’s possible, yes. Not just for Mikaela, also for Marco Odermatt! Where is he now?
He could reach a maximum of 2,302 points this season.
See, it’s a close thing, and he doesn’t even do slalom, which makes his performance even more awesome. In my season there were still world championships taking place, which means two to three race weekends less in the World Cup. In addition, a few races were canceled. So there would have been more. I’m sorry for Mikaela that she has now injured herself. I’m proud of my record, it’s part of me. But in the end it was just one season.
Her best season: Tina Maze won in 2013. She distanced Maria Höfl-Riesch (l.) by 1313 points.
Michael Dalder / Reuters
The numbers from that winter are unbelievable: 11 wins, 24 podium places, 3 World Cup medals. Does it make you feel unbeatable?
It’s funny, I’m looking at my fridge right now, I have to show you (she turns the camera to the fridge that has a big Lindsey Vonn sticker on it). It’s been stuck there ever since! The year before my points record, she tried to break Hermann Maier’s record of 2000 points. And almost did it. I was fourth, third in the overall World Cup, then second that year behind Lindsey. I really wanted to take the final step and really gave it my all every day that season. I knew: To become number 1, I needed 2000 points. That means being on the podium in almost every race. For me it was a big fight to challenge Lindsey. The duel was very close at the beginning of the season, both teams were nervous and the pressure was great on both sides.
Then came the World Cup in Schladming.
Lindsey was injured in the fog in that Super-G that was postponed so often. She probably lost focus a little. So my biggest rival was gone, like Lara is now. But my form was there: I just kept flying, didn’t take a break, enjoyed skiing without pressure. It was so easy and driving was so much fun that Maria Höfl-Riesch was more than 1,000 points behind me at the end.
Tina Maze has victories in all five disciplines
eva. · The 40-year-old Slovenian was twice Olympic champion, four times world champion and won the World Cup 26 times from 2002 to 2014. She is one of only seven skiers to win in all five disciplines and won the overall World Cup in 2013. Today she works as a ski co-commentator for Eurosport and tests new material for Stöckli. She lives in Slovenia with her partner Andrea Massi and their daughter.
Was it easy to deal with this intense season afterwards? Many people fall into a hole after an overall World Cup victory.
For me, the main problem was that Andrea (note: Massi, her former trainer and still her life partner) and I didn’t have a break from each other. Our relationship continued after the season ended. It was hard for me, I couldn’t recharge my batteries as much as I wanted. And there were a few changes in the team that affected me. When key figures such as coaches change after such a good season, it is difficult.
A few years ago you said that retirement saved your romantic relationship. The pressure was too great. How did you find your way into your new life as a couple?
It’s hard to have a relationship like that. We women mix everything. Men are different, they can separate their professional and private lives, but not me, for me everything was one, even if I tried. We were professional throughout our careers: we were never seen hugging or kissing at work. Enjoying it as a couple was difficult. At one point it was too much for me.
How is it today?
It’s still difficult for me sometimes when Andrea tells me: Do this or that. He is a teacher and has to teach. But I like it less and less. I then tell him: «If you teach something to someone else, I love it. But just leave me alone!” I think I drove too long, our relationship suffered.
Why didn’t you hire another trainer?
I couldnt do that. What we had started was everything for me! I didn’t want to work with anyone else because I knew how good Andrea was. When I left he was working with the Slovenian men and built them up incredibly well in a single year. I said, “Wow, now our relationship will be easier because you’re not pushing me all the time. This is how I can imagine a future together!” That was important for me.
Andrea Massi was Maze’s life partner and trainer at the same time. This put a heavy strain on the relationship.
Imago
From the outside, his treatment of you seemed harsh.
I know. You wouldn’t think it, but I’m a very jovial person. I need someone to push me. And yes, sometimes it was too much. Finding the right balance was also difficult for Andrea. I need three coffees just to start the morning. I love it when the team works and this energy is there. If not, I need someone to kick me.
You turned forty last year. Are you fit nine years after your last race?
I feel great. When I’m on skis, I sometimes have the feeling that I could still win one or two races. Some curves are perfect and I think: Damn, I’ve still got it. But physically I’m no longer at the level I was back then, I don’t train enough for that.
Does your six-year-old daughter also ski?
She skis well, but not yet in racing mode. I love spending time with her. She’s growing so fast. I get more satisfaction from them than from sports. Sport is cruel, aggressive, it’s about strength. It only gives you a fraction of what you get from family. My daughter is good for the soul, something I was missing from skiing. After my career, I spent a year looking for myself. My life today is much better.
Did you struggle to find your place in your new life?
The first year after quitting is terrible. You go from a hundred to zero. The biggest problem is that you lose your team that pushes you, follows you everywhere, takes care of you. As a skier, you have two families. The one at home that consists of your parents. The second is the one that travels with you and takes part in all the races. The hardest part was losing these people and finding each other. Andrea was still by my side, but our relationship was at its limit. For the first time I had to take care of myself alone. But you shouldn’t be afraid to start something. Everything can be learned and everything has its time. For me, for example, cooking was a big challenge. I didn’t like that, but with a child you have to.
You said you didn’t have time to be nice during your career, but you’re such an open person. Was that difficult for you?
Lara, for example, was very sociable and had a lot of energy, I am the opposite. I just didn’t have the energy for anything else, so I shut down. That doesn’t mean I’m not friendly. I guess I was too stressed about everything, now I don’t feel that way anymore. Talking is fun now. Yes, it’s weird, life changes.