Inspired by daughter Maria: ski legend Albrecht establishes a unique school

“My daughter Maria inspired me to do this,” says Albrecht. “After my success as a racing driver and as an entrepreneur, I now consider it my most important task to ensure that my daughter can develop her potential in a way that suits her. That is why I put the idea of ​​my own campus on paper.”

Learning paradise with access to forest and water

In the future, the Albrecht campus will offer children and young people a place surrounded by forest and water, where they can learn and grow at their own pace and with playful ease. «I always notice that my daughter and her colleagues do almost everything with enthusiasm, as long as you work with them in a playful way. But as soon as you put too much pressure on them, it becomes difficult.”

The Valais resident admits that he himself was never particularly good at dealing with too much external control: “When my coaches sent me to qualify for a race, I usually skied very poorly. But when I got a permanent spot for a competition, I enjoyed going to work so much that I was usually very fast.”

English lessons with Ed Sheeran

The former vice world champion in giant slalom thinks he can encourage children to learn in a playful way. “Many children close themselves off in class because they are presented with a textbook that does not interest them. That’s why I advocate that they can choose their own approach to the subject. For example, my daughter is a big fan of singer Ed Sheeran. If her English lessons revolve around a Sheeran song lyric, she will learn the language much better and faster than through classical vocabulary learning with lyrics she has no connection with.

In order to experience one’s own limits, dreams must also be allowed in the Albrecht school system. «If a little schoolchild comes to me and says he wants to fly on a broomstick like the witch from the fairy tale, I will not tell him that it is impossible. Instead, I take him to the store so he can choose his broom to fly with. If you let children live their dream, so many positive things come out of it, they develop in a brilliant way.”

The crucial question arises: how far is Albrecht in financing his school model? “Discussions are currently underway with donors and we have already received a lot of positive feedback. I therefore assume that we will be able to present the final plan in December 2024.”