Closing the E book on the High
OBERPERFUSS, Austria — Stephanie Venier is placing her skis away. The 31-year-old Tyrolean introduced her choice Thursday afternoon on the Sulzstichhütte on the Rangger Köpfl in Oberperfuss.
The transfer, lengthy suspected in Austrian ski circles, comes solely months after the defining second of her profession. In February, she turned super-G world champion at her house championships in Saalbach and added bronze within the crew mixed. She had already owned downhill silver from the 2017 Worlds in St. Moritz, the place solely Ilka Stuhec was quicker.
“My Chapter Is Written”
“The snow stays – however my chapter is written. I laughed, cried, fought, doubted. I fell – and obtained up once more each time,” Venier wrote on Instagram. “Thanks, snowboarding. You’ll all the time be part of me. I’m leaving – wholesome, fulfilled, and comfortable.”
She instructed reporters the selection got here after lengthy reflection. “The thought of ending my profession shouldn’t be totally new and has been maturing in me for a while,” she stated. “However I wished to take sufficient time for this radical choice. As soon as it’s made, there’s no turning again.”
The “unconditional will” that elite sport calls for had light in current months. She began coaching once more in Might, then requested herself if this was nonetheless the fitting factor. “It clearly wasn’t,” she stated.
A Profession of Velocity and Success
Venier’s document contains 169 World Cup begins, 12 podiums cut up evenly between super-G and downhill, and three wins — two in downhill and one in super-G. She competed in 5 World Championships for Austria, incomes three medals, and represented her nation on the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
“Snowboarding has all the time meant the world to me, and I may by no means think about a life with out it,” Venier stated. “Now I really feel a brand new section of my life awaits me, and I’m interested in what thrilling issues the longer term holds.”
She stated she is grateful for the teachings and adventures of her profession and for avoiding main accidents, however recurring knee issues made her reluctant to maintain pushing her physique.
Retirement Indicators Have been There
Her selection will shock few. Hypothesis began after final season ended and grew stronger in current weeks. Whereas most racers posted photos from snow coaching or health club periods, Venier shared personal moments — her bachelorette occasion with fiancé and fellow racer Christian Walder, leisure time, and packing away her medals and trophies.
Final winter, she had already hinted she would possibly step away after fulfilling her childhood dream of successful a world title. She additionally turned one of many first Austrians to overtly query the management and communication of head coach Roland Assinger.
Knee hassle saved her out of the 2024–25 World Cup Finals in Solar Valley. She declined to revisit her dispute with Assinger on Thursday, saying the main focus was retirement. However in a Kleine Zeitung interview printed the identical day, she stated she nonetheless expects a public assertion.
Assinger’s Parting Phrases
In an Austrian Ski Affiliation launch, Assinger stated their variations had been addressed. “Despite the fact that there have been misunderstandings within the communication between Stephanie and me, we have been capable of resolve them in an inner dialogue,” he stated. “We had a constructive change and parted methods on good phrases.”
He praised her achievements, particularly her Saalbach medals, and known as her departure “regrettable” however “well-considered.”
Finish of an Period for Austria
Recognized within the ski scene as “Aunt Gucci” for her love of purses, Venier is the tenth Austrian girl to go away the game earlier than the 2025–26 Olympic season. Others embody Michelle Niederwieser, Tamara Tippler, Elisabeth Kappaurer, Angelina and Amanda Salzgeber, Elisabeth Reisinger, Maria Niederndorfer, Marie Therese Haller, and Valentina Pfurtscheller.
