Austria's Meschik announces retirement

Austria’s Ina Meschik has declared her retirement from the FIS Alpine Snowboard World Cup tour after eleven seasons.

Meschik earned her sole World Cup victory in the parallel giant slalom at Carezza (ITA) in December 2016, while earning seven more podium finishes on the World Cup throughout her career. In the 2015/16 season Meschik finished third overall in the World Cup parallel slalom rankings. At the Sochi 2014 Olympics Winter Games the Carinthian finished fourth in the parallel giant slalom race, just missing out on a medal.

A sixth place in Vancouver 2010 (PGS) and eighth places in Sochi (PSL) and Pyeongchang 2018 (PGS) are also on Meschik’s Olympic resumé, while in four world championship efforts an eighth place in parallel giant slalom at Sierra Nevada 2017 was her best placing.

"Together with my junior assignments, I've been on the road for 13 seasons,” Meschik said of her decision to step away from competition, “It was time for me to build the foundation for my future career, and I'm currently completing an apprenticeship with the Austrian Armed Forces, which I like very much. I’ve enjoyed all the experiences I've had in my snowboarding pursuits - regardless of whether they were good or bad.”

Meanwhile, Meschik’s Carinthian compatriot Johann Stefaner is also calling it a career. Stefaner won in the seasons 2012/13 and 2016/17 respectively the Europa Cup overall parallel standings, and was last winter Europa Cup second overall. In the World Cup in March 2015, the 28-year-old took eighth in the parallel slalom in Moscow for a top ten result.

"Of course it weakens us when Ina Meschik, a potential victor and podium rider, ends her career,” said Christian Galler, sports director for Austrian snowboarding, “Ina has been a constant in our parallel team for more than a decade, but of course we respect her resignation - as well as that of Johann Stefaner. On behalf of the entire team, we wish them all the best for their professional and private future.”