Private insights

Odermatt: Beer and fun before the Aspen race

Does Marco Odermatt reveal his recipe for success here? The exceptional Swiss athlete posted snapshots on Instagram before the important race weekend in Aspen - where he can collect the crystal globe in the giant slalom - in which he is visibly happy enjoying his free time with friends. The odd beer is also a must.

Odermatt has already won eleven races this winter. This means he is not far off the record of 13 victories in one season, which the Swiss himself holds together with the trio of Ingemar Stenmark, Hermann Maier and Marcel Hirscher. In the giant slalom World Cup, the 26-year-old is 386 points ahead of Croatia's Filip Zubcic with four races to go. He has ten RTL victories in a row across the season.

"Enjoying life"
Odermatt is now proving on Instagram that he can also toast his successes. "It's not always just about races and victories. It's also about having a good time and enjoying life," the 26-year-old writes with the pictures that show what he has experienced in the past few days.

Outing with buddies in Aspen
"Odermatt went freeriding in Aspen with his buddies Gino Caviezel and Justin Murisier and delivered spectacular snapshots - including daredevil jumps into the deep snow. His 380,000 followers love it. "One of the best posts I've seen from a World Cup skier in a long time," writes one user. And another adds: "Very cool. Probably just part of your recipe for success, switching off from time to time or enjoying a beer with friends."

Three races at the weekend
A total of three races are on the men's program in Aspen. The first giant slalom starts on Friday (6pm and 9pm), followed by the second RTL on Saturday (6pm and 9pm). The slalom will take place on Sunday (5pm).