Passing of Heinrich Messner

FIS is mourning for a Ski Legend. With the Tyrolean Heinrich "Heini" Messner, the winner of the very first Ski World Cup race (1967 Slalom in Berchtesgaden), passed away six weeks after his 84th birthday.

Messner was as versatile as he was elegant as a racer. Although the major triumphs of being an Olympic and World Championship third place finisher in the giant slalom in 1968 and an Olympic third place finisher in downhill in 1972 eluded him, he was highly popular due to his modest and unassuming nature alone.

Messner was also a successful coach. Under his sensitive guidance, Austrian female skiers, led by Annemarie Moser-Pröll and Monika Kaserer, celebrated a series of their greatest triumphs.