The Herminator announced Tuesday that he won’t be back in time for the World Cup opener this season. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Hermann Maier, whose career was nearly ended by a motorcycle accident last year, will pass up the giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, on Oct. 27.

Maier still intends to compete this season
According to Associated Press reports, Maier, who also injured his leg in mid-August while gate skiing at Portillo, Chile, for the first time since the motorcycle accident, said he realized quickly after starting practice with coach Andreas Evers that World Cup skiing will have to wait.

"On soft snow it worked pretty well but on the hard track surface I still feel strong pain. It's simply not yet possible to compete. I want to come back only when I'm really fully fit and enjoy skiing," Maier said. "In any case, it will be this season, but when exactly I cannot say at this point."

World cup starting in Sölden
For the sixth year running, the FIS Alpine World Cup starts in Sölden/Tirol/Austria on October 26 and 27. Top skiers and organizers have been preparing for this winter’s World Cup for several months. Injured athletes are getting the best treatment to recover as soon as possible, others are busily testing the latest ski equipment.

Most “followers” are Austrian and Swiss, but also lots of Croatians – fans of Janica and Ivica Kostelic - are expected to be there. The special thing about Sölden is that women and men race on the same mountain with even the same start and finish area; only the courses are different.

[Source: Ski Press]

Other related stories on Natives:
Maier wins Val d'Isere double
Maiers career in balance
Maier to miss Olympics after accident
Maier back in training in Zermatt

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