Hirscher sticks to home snow for now

Why fly all the way to New Zealand or South America when there’s still plenty of snow in your own country for August training? That’s the bet four-time overall World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher is hedging with the start of his on snow preparation for the upcoming 2015-16 season. Hirscher has opted to train the technical disciplines on the Moeltaller Glacier in his home nation of Austria so long as the conditions remain productive.

Despite a notably hot summer in Austria, Hirscher is pleased with the snow he’s been able to find during his first few early morning sessions on the glacier and hopes to avoid a trip to New Zealand.

“But now really – absolutely awesome!” he exclaimed in a social media post following his first day back on skis.

Hirscher’s morning regimen at Moelltal requires a 4 a.m. wake up so he can be prepared to ride the funiculare at 6:30 a.m. up to his training lane. It’s significantly less stressful than a trip overseas, but not without its unique challenges.

“Here you have to pick out the good days so you can train well,” Hirscher told Austrian TV broadcaster ORF. “That is the big challenge now.”

The Salzburg native is looking to claim his fifth consecutive World Cup overall title in the 2015-16 season.

Photo courtesy of Marcel Hirscher (Facebook)