Tina Weirather: Life After Racing – Where the Skiing Legend Stands Today
When you think of the most defining faces in Alpine skiing over the last decade, one name immediately comes to mind. Tina Weirather is right up there. Even though we no longer see her in the starting gate for the speed events, the Liechtenstein-born athlete with Swiss roots has remained connected to the sport. Whenever a classic race rolls around in St. Moritz or Wengen, it’s hard not to think: man, she used to ski that slope with such effortless authority.
The news of her retirement in spring 2020 hit like a bolt of lightning. But let’s be honest: anyone who followed her career knew that her body, after all those hard landings and injuries, was sending a signal. Tina was never the type to fight for every start at any cost – she was the one who raced with an almost unshakeable coolness when it mattered most. Her style was that elegant, smooth glide that made the toughest piste look like a plush carpet.
For a young Tina Weirather, the daughter of Hanni Wenzel and Harti Weirather, the pressure was naturally immense. But she didn’t just carry the name; she gave it new meaning. Winning the small crystal globe in the Super-G in 2018 was the crowning achievement of a season where she was simply untouchable. Anyone who watched the races in Lake Louise knows: that was her happy place. That’s where she proved she wasn’t just the "princess" from the principality, but a fiercely competitive force at the World Cup level.
Her World Cup achievements read like a who’s who of the speed elite:
- World Cup discipline title in Super-G (2017/18 season) – the small crystal globe for absolute consistency across the entire season.
- Seven World Cup victories in speed disciplines, including several on classic courses in North America and Europe.
- Five additional podium finishes at World Championships and Olympic Games, including a 4th place in Pyeongchang 2018 – a position every racer knows: so close yet so far, but a testament to her class.
So what is Tina Weirather up to now? After retiring, she didn’t just fade into the white noise of sports history. She deliberately stepped back to give her body and mind a break. Together with her husband, Swiss ski racer Andreas Sander, she now splits her time between the Austrian Vorarlberg region and her home in the Rhine Valley. Anyone who meets her today senses this calmness. She’s enjoying life without a race bib, occasionally appears as an expert on TV – and yes, she’s passing on the joy of snow to her young ones. No pressure, just pure fun.
For us in Switzerland and neighbouring Liechtenstein, Tina Weirather remains one of the most charismatic athletes we’ve ever had. That blend of laid-back ease and steely determination was her trademark. And that’s exactly why it’s so great to see her on the slopes every now and then – not in a racing suit with a stopwatch, but with her family, a smile on her face. It’s the best proof: you can end your career without losing your passion.
When you think of Tina Weirather, the saying comes to mind: old love never rusts. For the Swiss and Liechtenstein ski community, she’s not just a former racer. She’s one of us. As long as there are World Cup races in Switzerland, there will be moments when that spark jumps – and we’ll remember the time when Tina stood on the top step of the podium, hoisting the crystal globe with that inimitable smile. That, to me, is class that lasts.