For the first time since the 1994/1995 season, Michael von Grünigen was not able to celebrate a single stage victory during the 1999/2000 season - for sure another good reason to reinforce his momentum and convince him to keep on racing for a couple more years. The Swiss ace, the best active GS skier on the tour with 16 wins, three GS World Cup title and three medals (2 gold and two bronze) from 1996 to 1998, could not leave as a looser even if he had an "OK" season with four places on the podium. He also finished 3nd in the GS World Cup standings.

He felt enough fire, pleasure and motivation in himself to take the risk to change his ski supplier during the summer and to train mostly alone in Zermatt. After a series of tests, he decided to use Fischer skis during the next two years. It's quite an exciting challenge for both parts, since Fischer has not been at the top in the technical events for a long time. In March 1999, von Grünigen clinched his third GS World Cup title in winning the final race in Sierra Nevada in which Hermann Maier crashed. The 31-year-old veteran enjoyed triumphs in all the traditional World Cup sites as well as in America and Japan. Only Sweden's Ski Legend Ingemar Stenmark has better records than his.

Michael is well - respected for his modesty and friendly attitude, but especially for his superb ski technique. His talent, his confidence and his search for perfection have led to his many achievements. The town of Schoenried honored him during the summer in giving his name to one of his squares.

The Swiss ace has competed on the World Cup circuit since 1990, winning his first race in 1993, at Veysonnaz, in front of Alberto Tomba. At the start of the 1994/1995 season, he looked ready for a great winter when he dislocated a shoulder in December during a slalom at Lech, Austria. Michael was finally healthy the next season and blew away his competition.

He won five World Cup races in 1996, and finished 2nd or 3rd three other times. Add to that two bronze medals at the FIS World Championships in Sierra Nevada and the GS World Cup. The following winter, he won five events including the gold medal at the Sestriere Worlds and the pre-Olympics at Shiga Kogen. Only the great season of Austrian Hermann Maier kept him from winning the GS World Cup in 1998.

Ski racing has helped Michael feel the joy that life can offer and overcome childhood heartache. Michael was a child when both his parents died - his mother from illness and his father in an accident. He was raised by his older sisters Ruth and Dora. Another sister Christine, also a ski racer, helped him get started on the road to stardom.

His lovely wife Anna lost their third child at the end of August and she was seriously ill. Fortunately she recovered her health afterwards.