"It’s just time to move on"

On March 26, Daron Rahlves ended his active career in front of a home crowd. At the national championships, the 32-year-old made his last trip to the start – and won the Super G. This represents the dignified farewell of a 13-year career, during which the Californian became the downhill skiing world champion and won 12 World Cup races. Among these, he was the first American ever to win the most important race in the World Cup: The Hahnenkamm downhill race in Kitzbuehel (Austria) – “The Super Bowl of Skiing”, as he calls it. In the first part of the interview, he speaks about the reason for his decision, unforgotten moments, his most important companions along the way, and about those, whom he misses most.

You terminated your career after 13 years a few days ago. How does it feel?
Actually pretty well. Looking back I’m very happy with the progress I’ve made, it’s been very tough at times, but in the end I’ve arrived where I’ve always wanted to be. It’s just time to move on.

You came in fourth in the over-all ranking this World Cup season – the best result so far. Why did you decide to retire just now? When did you actually make the decision?
I made my decision two years ago, in 2004. Mostly because I needed to give my wife, Michelle, some perspective, too. You know, she had to deal with my egotistical life-style all these years, and I just wanted to bring some perspective to the whole thing.

Looking back on these 13 years – what’s your fondest memory?
I guess that would be my first time at Kitzbuehel, in 1999, when I crossed the finish line and I was like “Thank God I made it down alive”. And then when I was there at the podium for the first time in 2001 – I came in third behind Hermann Maier and Hannes Trinkl – that was pretty amazing too.

Two years later you won the downhill there. Is it “even more special” for an American to be successful in Kitzbuehel?
Definitely. Kitzbuehel is more than a race, it’s an event. When you grow up in the States you may know nothing about Alpine skiing at all, but you will know Kitzbuehel. The atmosphere there is just amazing. I remember when they called out Hermann Maier’s name and the crowd just went wild! You don’t have that in the US or anywhere else – the energy is just so high. Being part of that is the most amazing feeling.

And what was your personal low point?
Looking back, that was definitely after the Olympics in Utah, where I didn’t perform well at all. Especially the fact that this was “our” Olympics and we did really badly. That was very disappointing. Yeah, and that crushed me pretty hard.

Imagine you had the chance to thank three special people right at this moment? Who would that be and why?
Well, two of them would be my grandparents for sure – my Dad’s parents, that is. They really, really supported me in everything I did, especially emotionally. We went on vacation in Aspen together, and they were passionate about skiing themselves. When my grandfather became ill – he was sick through 2002 – and I was racing at the Olympics ... it was like ... I wanted to win a medal just for him. And it wasn’t the same anymore after he died. Some time later, my grandmother got sick as well – she died not too long ago. But, yeah, I’m grateful for everything they’ve given me. More than I can ever say. And then, there’s Michelle, of course, my wife. She’s very supportive as well. When I’m down she’s the one who reminds me of the fact that this is what I love doing.

And apart from that, who would you say were your most important companions throughout your career?
That’s hard to say, really … you know I’ve jumped around so much … but I guess in the last few years that would be my three coaches. That’s Chris Brigham and John McBride and Pete “Pedro” Bosinger. You know – these people do everything for us, but they never get that much credit. They are the ones who give us the possibility to perform well in the races.

How will you remember the World Cup circus in general? Was it like “one big family”?
Yeah, it’s a very small world. It’s like you race in a place and then after a year or more you come back and somebody shows you a picture that displays you and this little boy that’s standing in front of you – only now he’s taller than you. Stuff like that.
And also with the other guys – I hung out a lot with Bruno Kernen and the other guys from Switzerland and also Stephan Eberharter. You spend so much time together and after a while you become real friends – I’m going to miss that for sure.

Is that what you’re going to miss most?
Well, I’m definitely going to miss the racing days, the opportunity to race down these spectacular slopes all the time. The feeling of totally being focused on this one thing. And then yes, of course: I’m going to miss hanging out with the other guys, I’m going to miss not seeing them every single week.

Read in the second part, why Daron Rahlves is planning a second career on skis, how he will also cooperate with his wife, Michelle, and what his greatest private desire is.