After Mikaela Shiffrin’s Favorite Team-Mate Nina O’Brien Crashes Out, A Pro-Skier Takes Up an Unlikely Challenge Weeks Before Skiing World Championship

On 12th September, Team USA faced a huge setback, as Mikaela Shiffrin’s close-knit friend and teammate Nina O’Brien fractured her left leg again before the skiing season. The 25-year-old Olympic skier broke her leg while training on the slopes of New Zealand. Hence, in the wake of her laceration, she will now miss the upcoming Skiing World Championship, starting in October with Giant Slalom held in Soelden.

Following this news, another pro-skier has taken up an unlikely challenge before the championships. An Instagram video of the skier using antique gears to make powder lines on the snow has left the skiers worldwide in a frenzy.

 Pro-Skier takes up a unique skiing challenge

On August 10, Austrian skier, Tao Kreibich, posted a reel on Instagram that left the skiing world intrigued. In the reel captioned, “Sending it on 210 cm skis from 1945, who wants to try?” the skier was seen gliding on the snowy slopes on his 75-year-old skis. Further, in the video, Tao was also spotted attempting a 360 with his 75-year-old gear.

According to Tao, these gears were made in 1945 and are completely different from the gears present in today, as the gears have long wooden boards fixed with cable bindings. The board also had no side cuts available and minimal flexibility. In the video, the pro skier tried to dig his edges in to help the gears fight their stiffness and rotate smoothly on the snow.

Interestingly, over the past few months, the skiing community has witnessed many such thrilling adventures. Recently, an 88-year-old skier through her unwavering dedication, again etched her name in the Guinness Book of World Records. The athlete participated in the 2023 Masters World Cup, held in Austria this year.

88-year-old skier creates history

At the age of 88, Katsumi Saeki, a cross-country skier, defied odds and has reached the pinnacle. Breaking down the stereotypes of age barriers with staunch powder lines at the 2023 Masters World Cup, the Japanese skier broke hew own Guinness World Record.

The athlete covered 5 kilometers of classic-style skiing on Austrian slopes in 26 minutes and 18 seconds, and broke her own record as the oldest female cross-country skier to participate professionally. In the freestyle event, the skier even managed to clock in at 29 minutes and 4 seconds. Saeki had previously achieved this milestone at the Japan Masters Championship.

Also read: “That Time of the Year Again”: Skiing Legend Mikaela Shiffrin Follows Major Competitive Decisions With Another Hint for Her Upcoming Season

Saeki indeed shown a staunch winning spree on the slopes. She not only created a new record but also made a haven in the hearts of millions through her incredible prowess. More so, while Saeki defied the odds and changed the narrative, Tao tried an impeccable feat with his 75-year-old ski gears and left his fandom to ponder over his unpredictable moves.

However, on the other hand, with skiing season approaching, while world is awaiting Mikaela Shiffrin’s performances on the slaloms, many fans also left in disappointment with Nina O’Brien’s leg injury. Nevertheless, the upcoming season promises a hoard full of thrill and adrenaline rush to its spectators.

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