Alpine skiing legend Hans Maier isn't taking retirement lightly - the 37 year old is embarking on the Race to the South Pole, competing against a German team to mark the 100th anniversary of Norwegian Roald Amundsen becoming the first man to reach the South Pole.


Maier's Pole challenge
The former Olympic and World Champion will begin the epic challenge on December 8th, starting in Cape Town. As soon as he arrives on South African soil, he will travel to the Russian base of Novo in Antarctica and begin the trek alongside a four man Austrian team.

Maier has revealed his delight at taking on the unusual challenge:

"It's a pretty exciting and unique adventure; it's also a great opportunity for me to do something really special and unforgettable.

"It's called the Race to the South Pole yet I don't see it as a competition, it's more an exploration and a formidable challenge. It's something amazing, it may never happen again. How many people nowadays have a chance to reach the South Pole by ski?"

Maier's public relations advisor, Walter Delle Karth, has revealed the Alpine veteran is in the best possible shape to take on the quest:

"Since his retirement, Hermann has been looking for something special like this.

"He is definitely in good shape and he will be working out hard for this. He took special care of his resistance strength in the past months. As you know, he has always been very strong-minded and focused when it really mattered."

Maier has battled back from a major motorcycle accident in 2001, an incident which almost resulted in the skiier losing his leg.