Garmisch-Partenkirchen/Planegg (dsv). Josef Ferstl from SC Hammer eV ends his career as an active ski racer. The 35-year-old speed specialist, who was a member of the German Ski Association squad for over 20 years, will say goodbye to his fans on Sunday with a final ride in the Super-G at the World Cup in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Josef Ferstl ends his career as an active ski racer. The veteran in the German team had prepared meticulously for the World Cup winter with the aim of achieving top placings. But now it has Josef Ferstl decided to put an end to his long and successful career.
“This season I tried everything again to be able to assert myself again among the best speed riders in the world,” says Josef Ferstl. “Unfortunately, I was unable to improve and stabilize my performance level in order to achieve further top results. It has always been my aim to live racing to the fullest. But when the head is no longer willing to take full risk, it’s time to draw a line. This decision was not easy for me, as racing was both a passion and a fulfillment for me. I had a really nice time and was able to gain a lot of valuable experience as a ski racer. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the last few years, my teammates, coaches and supervisors, the Zoll Ski Team, sponsors and outfitters, the German Ski Association, my fans and especially my family.”
A permanent fixture in the speed team and historic World Cup victories. He competed in the first of a total of 190 World Cup races Josef Ferstl in winter 2007 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Top ten results, injuries and strong comebacks followed, such as fifth place in the Super-G in St. Caterina after a torn cruciate ligament. 2017 celebrated Josef Ferstl his first World Cup victory in the Super-G in Val Gardena, ending an almost 27-year losing streak among the alpine men. In January 2019, he entered the history books once again in the ski mecca of Kitzbühel: for the first time, an athlete in the World Cup with starting number one managed to win a Super-G. Josef Ferstl won the Streif exactly 40 years after his father and thus continued a special family history. Father and son share a gondola on the Kitzbühel Hahnenkammbahn.
Olympic Games and World Championships overall Josef Ferstl 16 times in the top ten and 37 times in the top 15. He competed at two Olympic Games, in Pyeongchang (Korea) in 2018 and in Beijing (China) in 2022. In 2015 he qualified to take part in his first World Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek. Further title fights followed with St. Moritz 2017, Are 2019 and Courchevel-Meribel 2023. With a sixth place in the Super-G in Are, he narrowly missed out on the medals.
Plans for the future I want to do sports Josef Ferstl remain loyal even after his career ends. “I can’t help it, the passion and fascination for racing is just too great, that’s what my heart beats for. That’s why I will remain connected to this sport – in whatever form – for the rest of my life.”
Christian Schwaigernational alpine men’s coach “With Josef Ferstl a permanent fixture in the team ends his career. Despite many injuries, he has always fought his way back to the top of the world and achieved many great successes for the German Ski Association. We wish Josef All the best for the future and hope that he will continue to remain loyal to our sport in the future.”
Official FIS Ski World Cup calendar for the men’s season 2023/24
Official FIS Ski World Cup calendar for the women’s season 2023/24