Ski legend Didier Cuche before his SRF performance: “My life has completely changed”

GlücksPost: Didier Cuche, do you remember how the “Cuche Flip” came about?
Didier Cuche: In 2002 I won the giant slalom in Adelboden by more than a second. At the finish I opened the back binding and gave the ski a kick to get it to slide horizontally across the snow. But I kicked so hard that the ski turned and I was able to catch it. Since the audience was enthusiastic, I perfected the distance of the cameras and showed it again and again after a good result. By the way, the video of the first litter is on YouTube.

Now show the cover of “Small vs. Big”. What exactly is this about?
There are ten duels between children and celebrities in the show. I’m competing against a young Swiss. It’s about which of us can do more correct ski flips in a minute.

Who wins the match will be announced on Saturday. Are you a good loser?
As a child I was not a good loser. But I’ve had to learn this throughout my career. And now I try to teach my children that it is important to participate, but also to recognize when others are better.

So you don’t let your kids win extra games?
This is a balancing act. Noé is now 8 and I sometimes play chess with him. I know the rules, but I’m not a good chess player myself. And so it happened that he hit me without me having to “help”.

You retired from professional sports in 2012. What does your life look like today?
Shortly afterwards I met my lovely wife Manuela. Noé was born in 2015 and Amélie in 2018. That completely changed my life. Being a father is a wonderful profession. We live at the northern foot of the Chasseral. I work as a brand ambassador for Head and Audi and as a speaker. I am also honorary chairman of the regional association Giron Jurassien and a board member and ambassador at the Passion Schneesport Foundation, which promotes and supports financially disadvantaged young talent.

Do Noé and Amélie love skiing?
Yes, they both love skiing and having fun in the snow. I make sure they don’t miss anything and that I can spend time with them in the snow.

Do you still follow the ski races today?
Where possible, yes, on site, on television or later on the internet. But we don’t want our kids watching TV all weekend. But it’s hard to miss the classics in January.

A few words about Marco Odermatt?
It’s crazy what he can do. That leaves you speechless. He is on the hunt for all the records and I am curious to see whether he will be able to win the downhill and super G balls in addition to the overall World Cup and the giant slalom ball. The same goes for Lara Gut-Behrami.

If you had competed against Marco Odermatt in a ski race, would you have had a chance?
That is a difficult question. I think in my prime I probably could have competed in downhill and super-G. But not in the giant slalom.

But would you win a duel in the “cuche flip”?
(Laughs) Odi has already done it. And throwing skis definitely requires less training than skiing.

How often do you still do the flip?
Every now and then I am recognized on the slopes and asked if I can still do it. Sometimes I do it spontaneously after a cool ride.

You will be 50 years old in August. Is there a party?
Nothing is planned yet. I never celebrated my birthdays big.

What do you want for your birthday?
A rather banal health for me and my relatives. That is the most important.