On the day of the first downhill training, Christof Innerhofer celebrated his 40th birthday. The fact that the South Tyrolean, who is one of the most successful athletes in local skiing history, was able to celebrate his milestone birthday on the course, made him extremely happy. In the interview, “Inner” talks about his development as a person and an athlete, as well as his motivation to continue competing in the World Cup at the age of 40.

Today (December 17) is your 40th birthday – so it's not an ordinary day. At the same time, the first training session was scheduled here in Val Gardena/Gröden. How did it go for you?
Christof Innerhofer: In the end, it was just like any other day for me. But I'm very happy that I can do what I love most on my birthday – namely, ski. My start to the season was not easy, but I have had some very good training sessions over the last four months that I won't forget in a hurry. I have performed well in training and it was nice to come here and see where I really stand. I felt pretty comfortable right from the start house this year.

Val Gardena/Gröden has not always been your favorite stop on the skiing circuit. For a long time, your relationship with the Saslong was something of a “love-hate” relationship. Has that changed recently?
Christof Innerhofer: Yes, the tables have turned now, which is actually quite funny. For the first ten to 15 years of my career, I was always happy when the race week in Val Gardena/Gröden was over. But for the past few years, I have enjoyed coming here. That's just part of it, things change. I'm no longer 20 years old and no longer a “young wild one”. On courses like the Saslong, you can make good use of your experience, and the course is similar to the many training courses in the summer. That's why I now feel really comfortable here.

You said at the beginning that today you can do what you love most: skiing. How would you sum up almost two decades-long career in Alpine ski racing?
Christof Innerhofer: It was a wonderful time. Looking back, you appreciate even more what you have achieved. I used to be caught in a hamster wheel and wanted to win immediately and get on the podium at all costs. If I came in eighth or ninth, I often felt like the world was caving in on me. But in summary, I can say that the World Cup was a kind of school for life. I learned how to deal with success and failure. I understood what it takes to be truly happy. You see how many pats on the back you get, but also how many wake-up calls you have to endure.

Let's look ahead: How long do you want your career in the World Cup to continue?
Christof Innerhofer: As long as I don't put my skis in the cellar, it's not over. And I still believe that I can ski well, even if I haven't shown what I had hoped for in the last two years.

Do you feel a certain pressure?
Christof Innerhofer: I have learned that many people have the idea that an athlete always has to win. But the reality is somewhat different, because even after the sporting career, not everything always goes perfectly. That's why I'm glad that I've learned how to deal with difficult situations recently. These experiences have helped me enormously. In these past years, I have therefore grown primarily as a person. I know that the coming weeks will probably be just as important for me as the time in 2006 when I started in the World Cup. I have to deliver, even as a 40-year-old. But what many may not understand: I have always delivered good results for the national team and never took a place away from a young athlete. That's why I'm driving with a clear conscience.

Do you already have plans for what comes after your career?
Christof Innerhofer: It will all work out. I know my strengths and weaknesses, and I think I'll find something that suits me. I'll certainly never be someone who is just an extra. If I do something, I want to do it well and, above all, change it if I don't like it.

Last question: Are you planning a special celebration for your milestone birthday?
Christof Innerhofer: Not really – my friends and the fan club are here and we will have a few nice hours. I always look forward to sitting with them because they appreciate me as Christof and not as a successful skier. Ten years ago, it was still different – back then, I was always one of the leaders and a lot of people came who wouldn't come today. It's nice to see that there are people who still support me after all these years.