Tina Weirather: Life After Racing – Where the Skiing Legend Stands Today
When you think of the most defining figures in alpine skiing over the past decade, one name springs instantly to mind. Tina Weirather is firmly in that elite group. And even though we no longer see her in the starting gate for the speed events, the Liechtenstein native with Swiss roots has stayed connected to the sport. Whenever the classics roll around in St. Moritz or Wengen, a thought often flashes by: just how effortlessly she used to carve her way down the slope.
The news of her retirement in spring 2020 landed like a thunderbolt. But let’s be honest: anyone who followed her career knew that, after all those hard landings and injuries, her body was going to have the final say. Tina was never the type to fight for every start at any cost – she was the one who raced with an almost audacious coolness when it truly counted. Her style was that elegant, flowing glide that made the hard pistes look like a fluffy carpet.
For a young Tina Weirather, daughter of Hanni Wenzel and Harti Weirather, the pressure was naturally immense. But she didn’t just carry the name; she gave it a new meaning. Winning the small crystal globe in the Super-G in 2018 was the crowning achievement of a season in which she was simply untouchable. Anyone who watched the races in Lake Louise knows: that was her personal happy place on the circuit. There, she proved she was not just the "Princess" from the principality, but a fiercely competitive force at the World Cup level.
Her World Cup record 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 outstanding consistency throughout the season.
- Seven World Cup victories in the speed disciplines, including several on the classic courses in North America and Europe.
- Five additional podium finishes at World Championships and Olympic Games, including 4th place in Pyeongchang 2018 – a result any racer knows all too well: so close yet so far, but a true testament to her class.
What is Tina Weirather doing today? After retiring, she didn’t simply fade into the white noise of sporting history. She consciously stepped back to give both 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 deep-seated calm. She’s enjoying life without a race bib, occasionally appears as a TV pundit – and yes, she’s passing on the joy of snow to the next generation. Entirely free from performance pressure, just for the fun of it.
For us in Switzerland and neighbouring Liechtenstein, Tina Weirather remains one of the most charismatic athletes we’ve ever had. That mix of easy-going composure and iron will was what set her apart. And that’s exactly why it’s so good to 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. It’s the perfect proof: you can end your career without losing your passion.
When you think of Tina Weirather, an old 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 where that spark leaps across – and we’ll think back to the time when Tina stood at the very top of the podium, lifting that crystal globe high with her inimitable smile. That’s what I call true class, and that stays.