Erika Hess

Erika Hess (born 6 March 1962 in Wolfenschiessen) is a former alpine ski racer from Switzerland. She is one of the best female skiers ever, dominating the field in the 1980s with 31 World Cup victories (22 in slalom), five slalom titles (1981–83, 1985–86), and two overall titles (1982, 1984). She also won six World Championship gold medals between 1982 and 1987, as well as bronze medal in the slalom at the 1980 Winter Olympics at age 17. - She missed another medal (maybe a gold medal) on February 9, 1985, when she was in lead after the first leg of the Slalom Race at the "Stelvio"-course at Bormio but she didn't finish the second leg.

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• Erika hess 1986 world cup in furano dh
• Erika hess open
• References

Her first World Cup start was at the age of 15 in Berchtesgaden, West Germany, on January 25, 1978, and her first podium was on December 6, 1979, at Val-d'Isère, France. She retired at age 25 following the 1987 season with 31 World Cup victories, 76 podiums, and 146 top tens in 165 starts. - She did win six World Cup Slalom Races in a row from January to the season finish in March 1981.

She was awarded with the »Skieur d’Or« (»The ski racer in gold«, later named "Serge Lang Trophy" - named after Serge Lang - an award given by "The Association Internationale des Journalistes de Ski", an international Consortium of journalists competent for ski sports) on November 22nd, 1982 (5 points ahead to Phil Mahre). Several statistics say that she did win the title in the Slalom World Cup 1985-86, but she is placed 2nd. She, and Roswitha Steiner did gain 110 points, but her Austrian opponent did win 4 slalom races in that season (Erika only 2), therefore the higher number of wins was decisive.

Her cousin Monika Hess (she is two years younger than Erika, born May 24th, 1964) also was a ski-racer. Erika is married to Jacques Raymond (her trainer), the couple and three sons are living at Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz. Henceforward, Erika is organizing races and training camps for upcoming ski racers.