Heinrich Messner

Heinrich " Heini " Messner ( born September 1, 1939 in Upper Mount am Brenner, Tyrol) is a former Austrian alpine skier.

Playing career

Messner won the first World Cup ski races in history, and thus is regarded as the godfather of the World Cup. His greatest successes were the bronze medals in giant slalom and combined at the 1968 Olympic Games in Grenoble. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Sapporo, he was despite strong flu third in downhill skiing.

Curiously, this was a victory for the only one in the Ski World Cup, the Messner won. With a total of nine second-place finishes, 17 top-three places and 50 top ten places he still is one of the greats of the world cup and skiing history. He was also in 1968 at the Olympic Games in Grenoble finished fourth in the downhill and at the World Ski Championships in Val Gardena 1970 fourth in the giant slalom. Messner was the late 1950s - before the introduction of the world cup - a member of the Austrian national team, where he drove countless races and victoriously ended.

Innovations

Messner had spurned the then usual 2.10 m long skis in his memorable first World Cup victory and seized the first to shorter skis: "It was just that I said to myself, if the slope is very steep and icy, but would have shorter skis better go to the curves. But then it took less than two weeks until all nations have used the shorter slalom skis. "

However, other innovations in skiing go to the account of Wipptalers: " For example, I invented the bent downhill poles. Then I started to incorporate in the boots a support between the inner and outer boot that reached up to the calf. That was the trigger that has produced from the shoe production produces the high boots. "

Coach of the Austrian women's team

At the age of 33 years Messner ended his active career and moved into coaching. He oversaw two years the ladies around Annemarie Moser -Pröll, Monika Kaserer, Wiltrud Drexel, Brigitte Totschnig, Ingrid Eberle, Ingrid Gfölner, Irmgard Lukasser, Nicola spit and many other world-class runners.

With this Austrian Ski Team Ladies Messner never before seen successes celebrated. Above all, his empathy and selfless and relaxed manner with which he could convey knowledge from the eye level of the successful and experienced runner, were unique for motivation and mood.

Private citizen

After his resignation Messner ran a ski school and a boarding house; he also still a ski rental and ski service. Messner lives in Steinach am Brenner, is a father of three and four-time grandfather. His brother Alfred Messner was also skier and member of the Tyrolean ski country squad.

Achievements

Olympic games

  • Innsbruck 1964: 10 Departure
  • Grenoble 1968: 3 Giant Slalom, 4th exit, 14th slalom
  • Sapporo 1972: 3rd exit

World Championships

  • Innsbruck 1964: 10 Departure
  • Portillo 1966: 4th exit
  • Grenoble 1968: 3 Giant Slalom, 4th exit, 14th slalom, third combination
  • Gardena 1970: 4 Giant Slalom, Downhill 17
  • Sapporo 1972: 3rd exit

World Cup

  • Season 1967: 2nd overall World Cup, 3rd World Cup slalom, downhill World Cup 5th, 5th giant slalom World Cup
  • Season 1968: 10th World Cup, 7th downhill World Cup
  • Season 1969: 7th overall World Cup, 2nd downhill World Cup, 7th World Cup giant slalom
  • Season 1970: 8th overall World Cup slalom World Cup 7th, 8th downhill World Cup
  • Season 1972: 10th World Cup, 4th downhill World Cup
  • 16 podium finishes, including one victory

Austrian Championships

  • 5 Austrian championship: Departure 1961
  • Giant Slalom 1967
  • Slalom 1964, 1965, 1967
Slalom skiing Winter Olympic Games 1967 Alpine Skiing World Cup 1969 Alpine Skiing World Cup Obernberg am Brenner 1972 Winter Olympics FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1966 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1970 1968 Alpine Skiing World Cup 1970 Alpine Skiing World Cup 1972 Alpine Skiing World Cup
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