Ex-ski ace Weirather (33) and hockey legend Streit (45) look back: their fire was no longer burning, he got a shock

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For a long time they were among the best in their field. Tina Weirather (33), the ex-ski racer from Liechtenstein. And Mark Streit (45), the Bernese NHL pioneer. She ended her career three years ago, with him it’s been almost five years. We meet the two during the Zermatt Unplugged music festival. As members of the Norqain watch brand’s board of directors, Weirather and Streit are in the Valais ski village – giving speeches, meeting partners, chatting with companions and former fans.

Have you ever been to the Matterhorn?
Weather: Due to the many training camps I have probably spent the equivalent of almost a year of my life here in Zermatt. But I never had the desire to climb the Matterhorn. Perhaps that will change during the midlife crisis (smiles). But I have a dream.

Which?
Weather: I would like to circle around it with a paraglider. That’s a great hobby. However, I recently found out that Chrigel Maurer set himself the goal and then did it – he is absolutely world class. So apparently it’s not that simple (laughs).

Dispute: I’ve already circled it, but only by helicopter. This was a wedding present for a friend – it was very cool. By the way I can count my nights in Zermatt on two hands, the last time I was here was when my cousin turned 40 so we gave him two days of free skiing. A funny story.

Tell.
Dispute: There were five people and we agreed to meet in the village. However, I was the only one who actually had the skis with me! They focused more on the après-ski. I was there too, but I went to the slopes beforehand.

That couldn’t be done during your career, could it?
Dispute: Due to an injury I haven’t done it for 25 years. It’s the one thing I’ve always missed. Even as a child, skiing meant a lot to me. I’ve ridden a lot myself and remember a women’s descent in Lenk, with Maria Walliser and Michela Figini – that fascinated me. And my sister Priska and I used to only be allowed to eat lunch in front of the TV when there were ski races.

Did you play ice hockey as a kid, Tina?
Weather: In fact, yes. We had an apartment in Malbun, right next to the elevator. I skied all day with my brothers and in the evening we went to the skating rink. On one half the girls did figures, on the other half the boys played ice hockey – I was there. It was a good thing I never got mowed down as a girl, so I could drive to the gate on my own.

Mark, you were a lawyer, not a bully. How many fights have you had?
Dispute: One, but I lost it (laughs).

Weather: What happened?

Dispute: It was a preseason game with the New York Islanders against New Jersey. Andrew Peters, one of their strongest players, took a through ball into the center zone. Peters was 1.93 meters tall and weighed over 100 kilos. And I had the brilliant idea to check on him – he fell like a pine tree. There was a wild brawl, someone jumped on me – but it wasn’t a big deal. Two days later we played against New Jersey again. Our “tough guy” told me, “He won’t touch you again.” Then, on the ice, someone touched me lightly and my teammate hit him – but it was the wrong guy.

How does that sound to you, Tina?
Weather: I think it’s really cool how a team sticks together – you stick together through thick and thin, celebrate together and get through it together. Skiing is different. I was always on the road with Swiss-Ski, and we had a good time too. But at the end of the day, in one race one person is doing great, the other is medium and the other is miserable – I would have loved to have it like Mark.

As an SRF expert you are better known than when you were active. Agreed?
Weather: Yes that’s right. I’m also being approached more, but that’s fine. It used to be different: as a Liechtensteiner I didn’t get as much attention as the Swiss. If I drove badly, the Volksblatt might write “too bad”, but that’s all.

With your success you would have been a star in Switzerland and Austria.
Weather: Sure, that would probably have made me more money. But as it was, I had my peace, I almost preferred it.

Dispute: My first stop in the NHL was Montreal, a hockey-crazy city. At first I thought it was cool to go to the city – everyone knew me. I thought I was a mega number (both laugh). This has changed over time, I was always happy to escape this world in spring and come back to Switzerland.

In the NHL, wages are public. Did you have trouble disclosing how many millions you make per year?
Dispute: I didn’t, but it wasn’t easy for my parents and my sister. There was envy and resentment, many asked her if she would still work at all.

Was it different in North America?
Dispute: When I picked up my car after away games, I was happy to talk to the parking staff. They were very happy when we won. Or they cheered me up when we lost. We players made millions, and sometimes they worked three jobs and barely made ends meet. However, they gave us everything.

Was there never any animosity?
Dispute: In my first season, I wasn’t doing so well. Then someone shouted to the bank: “Go back to Switzerland!” So I should go back. Then I thought, “Shit…” But other than that, I got through it just fine.

Mark played to 39, you only drove to 30 – why, Tina?
Weather: In the fall before my last winter, I cleaned out my attic. Then I found a book where I had written down all my goals as a 17 year old. It was a pyramid of goals. At the top was what I wanted to win: a crystal ball, an Olympic and a World Cup medal, plus World Cup victories in three disciplines. At that moment tears came to my eyes.

You have achieved all goals, sometimes more than once.
Weather: From that moment on I have not won anything. My inner fire diminished more and more. I only noticed this later. The head still wants to, but deep down there is no willingness to take risks. I pulled away with full ambition, but when it came to pulling a difficult corner, I used a drift. I wanted to risk everything, but my body wouldn’t cooperate – my subconscious got in the way.

How difficult was the transition to post-workout life?
Weather: I had no major withdrawal symptoms. However, it also helped me a lot that I quickly found a job at SRF where I am still part of the ski circus. He was and is my second family, and some friendships are almost closer than before.

Dispute: I was extremely motivated until the end and didn’t think about what would happen next. When I was then told in Montreal that it was ready, I was shocked. I was lucky that my wife Fabienne was there and we had a daughter. They caught me. And at one point I was just thankful that I could practice my great hobby for so long.

Source : Blick