Downhill CEO Hintermann speaks clearly in the climate discussion: “Skiing is currently being discriminated against.”

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In the glamorous test-tube town of Beaver Creek, USA, there are a few things that have climate activists gasping. The pedestrian zone has underfloor heating. Right next to the ice rink in the center of the city there is a gas fireplace. The enormous Christmas trees are artificially illuminated until well after Advent. And compared to the gigantic cars that the millionaire vacation home owners drive around here, a Porsche Cayenne is one of the small cars.

Zurich downhill hopeful Niels Hintermann, 28, continues to shake his angular head as he walks through Beaver Creek. “Based on media reports in recent months, you might get the impression that skiing is the biggest burden on the environment. But especially here in the US, there are plenty of examples that prove that the ski circus is certainly not the biggest problem.”

Hintermann is really getting up to speed now: “Ski racing is currently being discriminated against by some media! Our sport is treated unfairly compared to other disciplines. The NHL and NBA teams fly through America every other day. The Formula 1 circus circles the world several times a year. That is why I object to us, Alpine, being portrayed as the main culprits.”

At the same time, the 28-year-old makes it clear that certain mistakes should not happen a second time: “Last winter, certain giant or slalom specialists flew from Europe to North America for a single World Cup race. The World Cup circus is held all over the world. But not with individual races, but in longer blocks.”

During his sightseeing tour of Beaver Creek, Hintermann stops in front of the jewelry store window. In July, the triumphant of the 2022 Kvitfjell descent will lead his lady of the heart Lara to the altar. Is he still looking for the right wedding ring? Niels waves it away: “The prices here definitely don’t match my budget!”

Third place in the penultimate Hahnenkamm descent points to a bracelet: “This little thing costs $6,000 – that’s just crazy.”

The jumps on the ‘Birds of Prey’ run at Beaver Creek are usually incredibly long – jumps over 70 meters have been measured in the past on the ‘Golden Eagle’. All this is to the taste of the Bülach financier. “I like this track because it is the most complete descent in the World Cup circus, with the long floating section at the beginning, the fast, long turns that follow and the long jumps.”

But the man with the Italian nickname ‘Cinghiale’ (in German: ‘Wildsau’) will never really hold the town of Beaver Creek in his heart. “It’s a bit like Disneyland. At first glance everything is beautiful, but if you look closer you will see some shortcomings. Unlike Switzerland, you cannot drink water from the tap here without worry.”

But maybe Niels Hintermann can take a big sip of champagne from the winning bottle after the first descent on Friday.

Source : Blick