Tina Weirather: Life After the Career, Class Is Permanent – Where the Ski Legend Stands Today
You don't have to think long when it comes to the most defining faces in alpine skiing over the last decade. Tina Weirather is right up there. Even though we don't see her in the starting gate for speed events anymore, the native Liechtensteiner with Swiss roots has stayed connected to the sport. Whenever a classic race comes around in St. Moritz or Wengen, a thought crosses your mind: Man, she used to cruise down that slope with such effortless command.
The news of her retirement in the spring of 2020 hit like a bolt of lightning. But honestly? If you followed her career, you knew her body was sending a message after all those hard landings and injuries. Tina was never one to fight for a start spot at any cost—she was the one who skied with an almost outrageous coolness when it really mattered. Her style was that elegant, smooth glide that made the hard-packed snow look like a fluffy carpet.
For a young Tina Weirather, the daughter of Hanni Wenzel and Harti Weirather, the pressure was, of course, immense. But she didn't just carry the name; she gave it a new meaning. Winning the crystal globe for 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 personal happy place. There, she proved she wasn't just the "princess" from the principality, but a fierce competitor at the World Cup level.
Her list of World Cup accomplishments reads like a who's who of the speed elite:
- World Cup Discipline Title in Super-G (2017/18 Season) – the small crystal globe for unmatched consistency throughout the season.
- Seven World Cup Victories in speed events, including several on classic courses in North America and Europe.
- Five additional podium finishes at World Championships and Olympic Games, including 4th place in Pyeongchang 2018 – a finish any racer knows: so close yet so far, but a testament to her world-class skill.
What is Tina Weirather doing today? After retiring, she didn't just fade into the white noise of sports history. She consciously 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 Vorarlberg in Austria and her home in the Rhine Valley. Anyone who meets her today senses that calm. She enjoys living life without a race bib, occasionally appears as an expert on TV, and yes, she's teaching her little one the joy of being on snow. No pressure, just pure fun.
For us in Switzerland and neighboring Liechtenstein, Tina Weirather remains one of the most charismatic athletes we've ever had. That blend of laid-back ease and iron will was her trademark. And that's exactly why it makes me happy to still see her on the slopes every now and then—no longer in a racing suit with a timer, but with her family, a smile on her face. That'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 that spark a connection—and we'll think back to the time when Tina stood at the top of the podium, hoisting that crystal globe with her inimitable smile. That’s what I call class that lasts.