Three things you did not know about Markus Salcher

“It’s not about winning; it’s about the fun. It’s great. It’s a great sport, because you get faster and faster when you do it.”

Downhill and super-G Paralympic champion Markus Salcher is preparing to try and build on the super-G and giant slalom silver medals he claimed at the 2015 World Championships this season.

Ahead of the Tarvisio 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in Italy from 22-31 January, the 25-year-old gave us an insight into the man on the skis.

I like to play squash

“With friends, some days, we think about what sport is not that popular in Austria, and we try it. We play one time a week, but I’m not good at it, because I am too slow against my friends who have no disabilities. It’s not about winning; it’s about the fun. It’s great. It’s a great sport, because you get faster and faster when you do it.”

I like to work

Salcher works at an airport, checking luggage for banned substances.

“It’s a supportive model of Austria, so that you have six months of sports and six months of work. There are seven people on the Austrian national team in this system. You earn money the whole year, but you work only six months.”

My goal is to finish my studies in 2018

“Many people don’t know that I am studying communications, and I want to finish my bachelor’s (degree).

“I think it’s important that you do something for your mind, and therefore, I chose to study. I have studied since 2011. It’s a long time, I know, and I should be finished, because people are usually ready in three years.

“But I am a skier, and I have no time to attend the university. I think to do something else for your mind is good for your skiing, because you don’t think about skiing the whole day. You think about skiing when you’re on the slope, and if I am in the university, I have to do university work.”

The 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships will be the last major gathering of the world’s best skiers before PyeongChang 2018. Around 140 athletes from 30 countries are expected to compete.

Media accreditation is available at the Tarvisio 2017 website.