Are, Sweden - Austrian ski veteran Hermann Maier missed a 15th World Cup trophy on Thursday, but said shortly after the day's super-g race that he may continue his skiing career until the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Maier, 36, even suggested he may still be around for the 2011 world championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, where he won the first of his 54 World Cup races back in 1997.

"Everything is possible in theory. There is a tendency to continue. Olympic Games naturally are a big goal," Maier said.

Looking at Garmisch, he named the world championships there "a great highlight."

On Thursday, the pre-race leader Maier missed the super-g World Cup trophy when he finished outside the points in 17th place. Norwegian overall World Cup leader Aksel Lund Svindal took the trophy by finishing second behind Italian race winner Werner Heel.

Maier, who won a super-g in Lake Louise in late November, said that he would likely not compete in every World Cup race if he decides to carry on.

"It is not easy to make the effort, but that will come again in summer. I enjoy training my stamina. The winter (season) is quite long so there is the idea to skip certain races," said Maier.

A final decision is not expected until summer, but the Olympics are very tempting for Maier because "I only had the honour to compete in two Olympics."

He won super-g and giant slalom gold 1998 in Nagano and added super-g silver and giant slalom bronze 2006 in Turin. Maier missed the 2002 edition in Salt Lake City in the wake of a motorcycle crash in 2001 which almost ended his career.

Maier said he was not discouraged by Thursday's result where he did not manage an error-free ride. The "Herminator" rather said that "I saw that I can compete with the best."

His long list of merits, which also includes four overall World Cup crowns and three world titles, also allowed him to shake off the missed title quickly on the day.

"If it had been fighting for my first title it would have been different. But I have 14 World Cup trophies," said Maier.

DPA
Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:41:56 GMT
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