Andreas Schifferer (AUT)

DOB:  08/03/1974  Hometown:  Radstadt

Andreas Schifferer might want to forget last season and focus on yet another comeback. Schifferer can hope to use the two consecutive downhill victories at Kvitjfell, Norway, in the '98-'99 season to springboard him to a possible upcoming World Cup title. He also came in third and second in the last two super G races, to finish again among the top-10 in the final 1999 World Cup standings. It was a great comeback for the 25-year-old skier from Radstadt who broke a leg training in the summer '98 and struggled to regain his form.

His third place in the giant slalom race at Alta Badia boosted his spirits, but he didn't make the Austrian squad for the FIS World Championships in Vail. It's not the first time that Schifferer faced such difficult moments in his career. In February '98, he suffered from the flu at the Nagano Olympics and performed poorly in the speed events. In '96, Schifferer survived a terrible crash on the treacherous Hahnenkamm course at Kitzbuhel, but a serious concussion forced him to rest for several months. It was especially tough for him after scoring promising results at Val d'Isere (sixth) and Bormio (second). Doctors were worried about brain damage, but with full recovery "Schiffi" could get back to his other passion: computers.

In 1997, Schifferer clinched bronze in GS at the Sestriere World Championships despite a high start number (17) — his only medal to date. His current goal is to challenge Kjus, Aamodt and Maier for the Overall World Cup title during the '99-2000 season.

— Patrick Lang, MountainZone.com World Cup Correspondent