Manuel Wieler – Hurt ÖSV star celebrates victory in the Slalom World Cup: “I've often heard that it's over”

That's why he never thought “I could come back like this.” The ÖSV star admitted that after his numerous injuries, he tried “to never focus on skating, but on everyday life, and get through it painlessly again.”

For example, his first herniated disc meant he lived with constant pain for nine months, Feller says.

But as time went on, “skating became closer, and the fun came back with each passing day. For me, it's almost unreal that the whole thing could take such a turn.”

“Now I'm the best slalom skier in the world this season,” the 31-year-old said almost in disbelief. “This is a lifelong dream come true.” This season, Feller won a total of four World Cup slalom championships (Gorgul, Adelboden, Wengen and Palisades-Tahoe). Austrian Kitzbühel and Schladming winner Linus Strasser were left unassailable in the World Cup standings.

In Saalbach at his home (starting March 16), the ÖSV star can now celebrate the biggest success of his career with family, friends and colleagues. ÖSV men's team coach, Marco Pfeiffer, was delighted with his player: “It's really a great season. He has incredible consistency, incredible mental strength, and incredible intelligence.”

“You have to take your hat off to the growth he has made in his career. From being a broken pilot many years ago, with back problems, to one of the most consistent slalom drivers at the moment.” Feller is undoubtedly an “enrichment of skiing.”