Marco BUECHEL

Liechtenstein's premier skier has been a regular feature on the World Cup tour since 1994 when he competed at Tignes, France, in the giant slalom which would go on to be his specialised discipline. His first podium finish came in 1998 at Park City in the USA when he finished third in the Giant Slalom.

Marco has so far managed to achieve four World Cup victories in his career, winning two Super-G events and two Downhill events. His first victory came after almost a decade of international competitions, at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Super-G race in Germany on the 23rd of February 2003. It took Marco another two years before he found himself once again standing proud on the top step of the podium, when he won the Downhill event in Val Gardena, Italy, on the 17th December 2005.

One year later he once again managed to battle his way to the top of the rankings, at the Lake Louise Downhill event in Canada on the 25th of November. His final World Cup victory came in the Super-G category on the 18th of January 2008 in Austria on the legendary slope of Kitbühel.

As the seasons have passed, the ever-popular Buechel has established the record as the oldest competitor to win a World Cup race, on two occasions.

He first accomplished the feat at Lake Louise, Canada in 2006 and then went one better at the age of 36 when he won the Super-G at Kitbühel in January 2008, holding off Austrian hero and fellow veteran Hermann Maier.

Marco Buechel has also won the Swiss national Skiing Championship on two occasions, in the 1999/2000 season Marco won the Downhill, Giant Slalom and Combined championships, whilst in the following season, 2000/2001, he managed to win the Parallel Slalom championship.

Although born in Walenstadt, in Switzerland, Marco grew up in Balzers within the Principality of Liechtenstein. Buechel, and his wife Doris, now reside in the distinctive town of Triesenberg, near the eastern border of Liechtenstein.

Unlike a large number of professional athletes, Buechal did not neglect his studies as he trained to become one of the top Skiers in the world. As a result Marco achieved a full Business-school education.

When the ever chirpy Marco is not busy competing on the international circuit, he enjoys nothing better than the pure adrenaline rush of sports such as parachuting, BASE-jumping and hang-gliding. He also has an artistic side highlighted by his love for photography.

Like most professional athletes Buechel has had his share of injuries, including two broken arms, and a knee injury last summer which forced him to rest completely for two weeks in July. However that has not stopped him from competing well into his late 30's.

In the 2008 season Buechel finished second in the Downhill discipline at Beaver Creek in the USA. However he failed to qualify for the Giant Slalom race he has competed in at Beaver Creek. Furthermore his second best result was a 16th place finish in the Super G in Canada, at Lake Louise.

The likable skier found it tough going in the 2009 season with a 6th place in Wengen's downhill by far his best result. At 37 years old, retirement from the sport he loves so much is a reality he can no longer ignore but with the Olympic Games scheduled next February do not be surprised to see Buechel at the start gate for at least another season.