Benjamin Raich (AUT)

DOB:  02/28/1978  Hometown:  Arzl

Benjamin Raich became skiing's newest teenage hero just two months before turning 20 when he won three races within 10 days at Schladming, Flachau and Wengen. A five-time junior World Champion and winner of the '98 Europa Cup, Raich is considered the most talented young Austrian to come along in decades. Many are comparing him to Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark, known as the greatest technical skier in World Cup history. He is the first skier since Alberto Tomba in '95 to have won both technical World Cup events in the same season.

Raich led up to his incredible feat by finishing fourth and third in the Kranjska Gora GS and slalom. But he clocked a disappointing 23rd fastest time in the first slalom run at Schladming. Taking all risks in the second leg, he set a new best time that was unbeatable. In Flachau, Raich beat Swiss World Champion Michael von Gruenigen and teammate Hermann Maier on his home turf in front of 20,000 spectators. He took second in Adelboden behind the "The Herminator" before soaring to new heights again on the treacherous slope at Wengen. It was an amazing series of victories, considering it was his first World Cup season.

At the '99 Vail Worlds, the pressure of Raich's new fame caught up to him. He skied out in GS and was a disappointing fifth in slalom. But what a season!

Ski racing has been his main passion for years and he worked hard to set new records. A fan of the only five-time Overall World Cup champion, Marc Girardelli, Raich enjoys all kinds of sports, including rock climbing, mountain biking and tennis. Bungee jumping is one of his favorite hobbies — his personal record is 94 meters.

When he was 15, Raich attended the nearby ski-gymnasium in Stams to pursue commercial studies. At the age of 18, he dedicated himself completely to ski racing with the full support of his parents. We will be seeing a lot more of Ben Raich in the future.

— Patrick Lange, MountainZone.com World Cup Correspondent