A Real Prince On The Slopes.

Alpine skiing gets more and more exciting to watch.

When both your parents are Olympic Champions of the same sport ( alpine skiing ) it would be understandable if you didn't take up the same sport. Yet, Felix Neureuther has done just that. He competes on the slopes at the highest level and guess what, he is very good.

Imagine if Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi's child took up tennis at the highest level. Oh yes, the pressure of comparison and expectation would be enormous. So here is Felix, skiing the most amazing, nerve wracking and exciting to watch runs almost every time. Gosh, on Saturday he also won a race.

Skiing at this level and giving your utmost can mean a run that could be ended by a mere centimeter. A ski could be in the wrong place and out you are! Felix, by nature of his princely status is the darling of the media and the commentators try their hardest not to be biased. The euphoria in their voices give them away of course. To be honest, even I shout at Felix and hold both thumbs on top of it...

Athletes of such a high caliber have various expressions of annoyance and anger when they disqualify or are too slow. Some swear like troopers ( oh, you can hear it through the microphone and some words don't need a soundbite ), some throw their toys out the cot by tossing their sticks on the ground and others pout in disappointment.

But then you get Felix and his response to a disappointing run. This is what makes him a Prince in my view. The reporters are ruthless and if Felix has a bad run or basically loses the race because of a centimeter of the ski being on the wrong side of the pole, they haul him in front of the cameras.

There are a finite number of races in each season, so it is a huge deal if you lose one. Especially if it was yours to win. Inane questions such as : " So Felix, how did you feel when you didn't win this race ? "..." Why did you do ....? ", should get inane answers!

Look, when the athletes get interviewed they are still a bit out of breath. But Felix again proved that he is a true champion by saying that yes, he was a bit sad for not finishing the race, but maybe it would be a good thing because it will ground him again. Make him focus more on skiing than on the media attention.

Wow, what a fantastic attitude. What a fantastic skier and what a nice young man. Any woman under 30 should look up his website and watch him race....

Biggi