After heavy criticism: the Austrian ski hippie is suddenly the slalom king.

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German ski king Felix Neureuther (39) was one of the best friends of Austrian slalom hippie Manuel Feller (31) when he was active. When asked about the most legendary stories he experienced with the Tyrolean, even the otherwise talkative Bavarian is speechless: “Uhhhh, I’m absolutely not allowed to tell them in public.”

After much thought, Neureuther then starts talking about his old friend: “Manuel moves in a circle of friends in which reggae music and the lifestyle that goes with it are more important than skiing. Feller is something like Alpine’s answer to Bob Marley. And it is really extraordinary that this colorful, pleasant guy was able to assert himself in the particularly conservative ÖSV system.”

‘Love and Peace’ combined with hard raps

The songs and life wisdom of Bob Marley (1945-1981) are actually an important source of inspiration for Feller, who grew up in the town of Fieberbrun, not far from Kitzbühel (Austria). That’s why the father of two likes to stroll around Jamaica after the harsh winter season, he also visited Marley’s grave barefoot and with a candle in his hand. For the last World Cup in Méribel (Friday), the 31-year-old released a reggae single called “Frau Holle”. “I went on holiday to Jamaica five times and met some friends there. And the reggae sound helps me relax.”

However, Feller doesn’t respond to criticism of himself with “Love and Peace” lyrics, but rather with verses more reminiscent of a ghetto rapper’s compositions. When Feller could no longer get going as usual in the 2019/20 season after a hernia, he became the target of the Austrian three-time Olympic and World Cup medalist Christian Mayer (51): “When I see Feller skiing, they come to me Tears because he skis so poorly technically.”

Since many couch potatoes also opened their mouths about him at this stage, Feller responded with a rap video on his Instagram page. The sharpest line: “All that comes out of your mouth is jealous shit. I don’t know why you are like this, maybe because your wife is my biggest fan?” At the end of this video, Feller gave the finger.

The masterpiece on the “Fairytale Meadow”

Klartexter Feller also risked a very big lip a year later when the Kitzbüheler slalom was moved to Flachau (Austria) due to the Corona crisis. “Compared to the selective Ganslern piste in Kitzbühel, the piste in Flachau is nothing more than a fairytale,” trumpeted Feller. It goes without saying that the executives of the Austrian Ski Association were not happy with this statement. “If it should be that easy here, then Feller should win this race easily,” demanded the then ÖSV women’s boss Christian Mitter (44).

What happened then? Feller was able to justify his big mouth by celebrating his first World Cup victory in Flachau. In the current season, the greatest free spirit in the ski circus has already achieved two major successes: Feller triumphed in the slaloms in Gurgl and Adelboden and is therefore in pole position in the battle for the small crystal ball. For the slalom on the Lauberhorn, Feller reveals that he also has a strong bond with Switzerland. “My two children have Swiss passports because my wife’s family is from Arosa.” And that is why reggae freak Feller sings the Bernese Oberland anthem “Vogellisi” with full force, just like after his victory over the “Chuenisbärgli”.

Source : Blick