Franz Klammer was my great idol in my younger years.

His career results in the Super-G races at Kitzbühel are the best in history (7 races: 5 wins and 2 second places). Maier won the overall World Cup title in 1998 as well as the Super-G and giant slalom season titles and placed second in the downhill standings. He was the reigning world champion in both events won in 1999 at Beaver Creek Colorado.

As of 2013[update] he holds the record for the most points in one season by a male alpine skier from 2000-2013 he also held the title of most points in one season by any alpine skier with 2000 points from the 2000 season. His 54 World Cup race victories (24 Super-G 15 Downhills 14 Giant Slaloms 1 Combined) rank second on the men's all-time list behind Ingemar Stenmark's 86 victories. Born in Altenmarkt im Pongau in Salzburg Maier ranks among the finest alpine ski racers in history with four overall World Cup titles (1998 2000 2001 2004) two Olympic gold medals (both in 1998) and three World Championship titles (1999: 2 and 2005).