Soelden, October 2016 – For the third time in the past four years, a majority of members of the AIJS decided to elect Austria’s Marcel Hirscher as the recipient of the ‘Skieur d’Or- Trophy Serge Lang’ Award presented by Milka at Soelden on Friday October 21st, 2016.

The five-time overall World Cup champion already received the prestigious crystal trophy created by Joska and handed over by FIS in 2012 after his first overall victory and back again after last winter crowned by a fourth big globe and a gold medal in combined at Beaver Creek.

Members of the International Association of the Ski Journalists also awarded many votes to Lara Gut, the first Swiss woman able to clinch the overall World Cup title since slalom star Vreni Schneider in 1995, as well as to Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal and his young teammate Henrik Kristoffersen.

Only a few champion so far were honored three times by AIJS in past decades – among them Austria’s skiing legend Karl Schranz, all-time great Ingemar Stenmark from Sweden, Italy’s superstar Alberto Tomba or Swiss Ace Pirmin Zurbriggen who all achieved impressive performances during their best years on the tour.

Marcel Hirscher received this year’s award at Soelden during the Forum Alpinum presented by Milka on Friday October 21st.

“It’s surely not a great surprise to see Marcel receiving again a majority of vote considering his fantastic past season marked by strong performances in the technical events and foremost his surprising win in Super-G at Beaver Creek, he is doing a great job to promote our sport around the globe,” said AIJS Vice-President Patrick Lang in charge of the ‘Skieur d’Or’ for over fifteen years now.

“Everyone within the World Cup tour is impressed by his passion and his dedication for alpine ski racing. He works very hard on and off the snow fields, I guess only a few people in his entourage really know how intensively he is training to remain atop of his sport,” added Lang.

“There are only a few examples in the history of our sport of role models being so fully focused and successful in their best events – and this winter after winter. I also like his readiness to take risks racing in other specialties than slalom and giant slalom to clinch again the big crystal globe, so I was very proud of him when I saw him winning that challenging Super-G race at Beaver Creek a year ago. It was quite a spectacular achievement that may equal his triumph there in the Alpine combined of the 2015 FIS Ski World Championships. We all wish him great luck for another successful season this winter and more interesting stories with him.”

MORE INFORMATION ON MILKA SKI SPONSORING

Milka Ski Sponsoring – committed to winter sports for more than two decades

Milka is not only known as a tender chocolate brand but also for supporting winter sports. Milka is again looking forward to an exciting season with a World Championship ahead with six competing athletes wearing the iconic lilac helmet.

Part of this year’s Milka Ski Star team is the Austrian Anna Veith, who plans to come back after her severe accident last year, Frenchwoman and giant slalom specialist Tessa Worley, the young athlete Elena Curtoni from Italy and Czech slalom specialist Sarka Strachova. Furthermore the Austrian longtime Milka team member Michaela Kirchgasser, newbie Viktoria Rebensburg from Germany and Tina Maze, who decided, after a one-year-break, to compete only in a few selected races.

Milka started this season with great news for all ski-jump fans: The well-known supporter of winter sports is celebrating its comeback as main sponsor of the 65th Four Hills Tournament. This highlight event will take place from December 29th, 2016 to January 6th, 2017. With the support of German ski jumper Andreas Wellinger this represents a perfect match for the iconic lilac chocolate brand.

„I enjoy the World Cup season kick-off in Sölden every year and I am looking forward to the feeling of excitement and anticipation before the first races. Milka is very proud of the longstanding partnership with the International Association of Ski Journalists. One of the secrets of our success is to keep our focus on special assets of the Alpine World Cup by promoting the lilac brand on a suitable platform and sharing this passion with others,” Dieter Heger, Manager International Milka Sponsoring, stated at the award presentation.

Winners of the AIJS Skieur d’Or – Serge Lang Trophy presented by Milka 2005-2016

2005 - B. Miller (USA) - 2006 - B. Raich (AUT) 2007 - A.L. Svindal (NOR) 2008 - M. Lanzinger (AUT) 2009 L. Vonn (USA) 2010 - C. Janka (SUI) 2011 - I. Kostelic (CRO) 2012 - M. Hirscher (AUT) 2013 - T. Maze (SLO) 2014 - A. Fenninger (AUT) 2015 A. Fenninger (AUT) & M. Hirscher (AUT)

Press Release
A.I.J.S. Ski Press News Center

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