Maier excited to go from 'hunter to protector' of golden bib as Ski Cross World Cup returns

Daniela Maier says she is looking forward to going from "hunter to protector" of the golden bib as the FIS Ski Cross World Cup returns in Reiteralm on Thursday and Friday this week.

This time last year, Maier was recovering from an operation following an innocuous fall in training.

"It was surprising, because we did some Giant Slalom training and I had a little crash, not really bad. I thought it's not that bad, I had not too much pain," Maier told FIS.

"Then two weeks later, I was like, okay, maybe I will have a look at the MRI. They said, 'Well, it's s**t. You have to do surgery'."

Maier went under the knife in January last year and missed the rest of the Ski Cross World Cup season, having only just recorded her first World Cup victory in Val Thorens the month before.

She could be forgiven, therefore, for entering the new season with trepidation - but she went full throttle from the get-go, registering podiums in both of the first two races in Val Thorens.

"I was totally surprised, especially because in pre-season I was not that good," the 28-year-old said.

"So that really surprised me, but yeah, it gave me a lot of confidence."

Maier was unable to replicate that impressive start in Arosa, where she fell away at the quarter-final stage, but was back at in Innichen.

The German skier won both races - although she's quick to point out the good fortune she received; particularly on day two when a coming together between India Sherret and Marielle Berger Sabbatel in the big final ruled out both racers who were ahead of Maier at the time.

"For sure, I was a little bit lucky. Especially on the second day, or on both days: lucky on the first day in the quarter-final at the top, and the second day in the big final."

"I mean, I was in third," she adds with a laugh. "The two ladies kicked each other off, so I was really lucky there.

"But no, I was happy with my skiing on those two days. I was surprised that on the second day that I had recovered that well, because I was really done after the first day.

"It was really hard, and surprisingly my legs were good again on the second day."

With four podiums, including two first-place finishes, to her name, Maier went top of the women's overall standings at the end of the weekend in Innichen. Albeit unbeknown to the woman herself.

"That was really amazing because I hadn't thought about the golden jersey," she says.

"I was just like 'Wow, insane, I have a second victory'. And then some lady told me 'Dani, you can go get in the golden jersey'. I had goosebumps all over my body.

"This jersey is getting a special place. I have the rookie bib from 2015/2016, that was the only one I had that has a special place in my flat, and now the golden jersey as well.

"Now it's my task to hold it, and hopefully I can have it at the end of the season. That's my big goal.

"I have these two emotions. On the one side, I'm so damn proud of this jersey and I'm pretty happy with it. But now I have a big task, not only hunting the golden jersey, now it's protecting the golden jersey."

The victory and resulting bib were made even more special for Maier as her family was there to watch her stand on top of the podium.

"It was so cute because my dad had some tears in his eyes. He really never cries or has tears in his eyes. That was a really special moment," Maier says.

"And it was really special because the next day I went home to my grandma because she turned 90 years old, and then we celebrated together - her birthday and my victories as well. That was a really nice moment with all my family."

Not sharing in the family celebrations but joining in those of the country was compatriot Florian Wilmsmann, who currently leads the men's overall standings. Asked if that fact makes it all the more meaningful, Maier says: "It does. It really does. Especially since it was the first time that two Germans have the golden jersey at the same time. It was a good time for us."

The job is far from done for either of them, with the season only just getting started. This week the athletes head to Reiteralm for the first races since Innichen just before Christmas. Maier describes the week as "like a second start to the season", while it's also as close to a home race as it gets for the German from Bavaria.

She's well aware that she will have her work cut out in Thursday and Friday's races. Sherret has been skiing superbly, only once missing out on a big final so far this campaign to lie second in the overall, just 44 points behind Maier.

Defending champion Marielle Thompson missed out on the big final on both days in Innichen, but her two first-place finishes and one third-place finish in the opening three races means she is just 49 points behind Maier in third.

Thompson's compatriot Brittany Phelan is making her return to action this weekend, and the timing is fitting as Reiteralm is the course where Phelan won last year to stand on top of the podium for the first time.

There is also the threat of Berger Sabbatel, Fanny Smith, Hannah Schmidt, Talina Gantenbein and many more - all of whom will be breathing down the neck of the pacesetter as the season wears on. But Maier is ready.

"I know that these girls are pretty strong. I know that I am strong as well but there's no easy way to get there, so I have to be very focused and concentrate and still be grounded and do what I can," she said.

"It's getting tough, but I think for sure the key is to just keep calm and still have fun, going race by race, and then maybe it's possible - I hope it's possible. I will do my best for sure."

Wilmsmann needs to make history if he is to win in Reiteralm

Wilmsmann has an equally difficult prospect in keeping the chasing pack at bay. There are only 25 points that separate the German with Simone Deromedis in third, while Canada's Reece Howden is a mere 14 points off the pace in second.

Wilsmann has had consistency aplenty at Reiteralm in seasons gone by, registering finishes of fifth, fifth, sixth and fifth in the last four races, while Howden has happy memories of winning there in March 2022, one season before he took the Crystal Globe.

However, if Wilmsmann is to win in Reiteralm he will first have to make a little bit of history - no German man has ever made it to the big final of a World Cup at Reiteralm.

Deromedis, meanwhile, very nearly won on the famous Austrian slope last year, but was narrowly thwarted by Youri Duplessis Kergomard by a fraction of a second. This year, though, the Italian is in scintillating form.

With the form there, we are sure to be treated to plenty of exciting racing this week. Wilmsmann, Howden and Deromedis have all won races this season, and they will no doubt be at each others' heels when racing gets underway on 16 and 17 January this week.