Three companions of the ski superstar: Odermatt inherited the most important gene from his great uncle

From whom did Marco Odermatt inherit his courage and nerves? “From his grandmother’s family,” answers Marco’s father Walti. «My mother grew up with eleven brothers and sisters. Some of her brothers were fearless mountain climbers, hard workers and made names for themselves as successful entrepreneurs.”

This description applies especially to Odermatt’s great-uncle Toni Frank, who founded a flourishing timber construction and real estate company in Ennetbürgen. «As a young carpenter, I regularly walked over a narrow beam at a height of ten meters and had no doubt that something could go wrong. Marco masters the steepest ski slopes in the world with the same conviction,” says Toni Frank with a smile.

In the summer of 2012, the then 15-year-old ‘Odi’ earned his pocket money by doing carpentry. 66-year-old Frank points to a wooden house in the heart of Ennetbürgen and says: “Marco helped build this building.” Toni starts to grin mischievously when he thinks back to that time: “Marco was then a skinny boy who I used as a runner on the construction site. He ran up and down the stairs virtually non-stop to deliver materials. Because it was particularly hot this summer, Marco sweated a lot.”

Although he does not testify to the special talent of his famous great-nephew as a professional, Frank can well imagine that the three-time World Cup winner will one day follow in his professional footsteps: “Marco has a great interest and also the right feeling for the real estate sector. That’s why I wouldn’t be surprised if he gained a foothold in this industry after his skiing career.”

Kean Mathis and Marco Odermatt were almost inseparable during their school days. Both attended the gifted class in Hergiswil. «Marco and I met every morning from Monday to Friday at Stans train station and took the train to school together, where we sat next to each other. Of course, without exception, we ate lunch together and drove home together after school,” Kean remembers.

And because Mathis was also a talented skier, the two trained together almost every day. In February 2010, Kean came up with an action that significantly contributed to the galactic development of his friend from Buochs. «Marco had skied in Rossignol so far. His technique was already fantastic back then, but he almost never won races. That’s why I lent him my Stöckli skis. A few days later Marco won a giant slalom for U14 at Sörenberg with my skis!”

While Odermatt has since achieved series victories with Stöckli, Mathis had to end his skiing career due to numerous injuries and, after completing an apprenticeship as a carpenter, is employed by the Canton of Nidwalden. That’s why he’s not frustrated. On the contrary. «When I see the enormous hype around Marco, I am glad that I did not reach the top of the world as a ski racer. Marco can no longer move freely in Switzerland. Whether you go out or have lunch in a restaurant, you will be recognized everywhere. He handles it very confidently, but that wouldn’t be for me.”

It was in the spring of 2010 when Richi Grab from Schwyz, head of young talent at Stöckli-Ski, made a clear demand to his then boss Walter Reusser: “There are two guys in Switzerland, born in 1997, who we absolutely must sign. One is called Marco Kohler, the other Marco Odermatt!” Reusser, now CEO of Sport at Swiss-Ski, immediately relented and shortly afterwards the two Marcos signed their first equipment contract.

The Bernese Oberlander Kohler, who suffered a torn cruciate ligament last World Cup winter after two top 10 placings on the Lauberhorn, then dominated the U16 races at will. Odermatt took a little longer because he was physically inferior in the U16 area.

Grab already suspected that by signing the man from Nidwalden he had secured a winning ticket for himself and his employer during an FIS race in Davos: “That morning, Marco got into the gondola with a chalk-white face. He had barely slept because he was constantly vomiting from the flu. I had my doubts about whether it made sense to participate in a race under these circumstances. The young Odermatt proved me wrong by finishing sixth with a high mark, laying the foundation for his promotion to the Swiss-Ski C squad.