One Thousand Days

Ups and downs, shadow and light, odd lines – the view from the summit tells us a lot about the route we took to get there. It tells us about small moments of happiness, but also major challenges. For some, it makes the journey impossible, for others, it takes years. For some, it takes exactly 1,000 days. That’s how long it’s been since Chris Ebenbichler, a passionate skier and trainer at the Olympic Center Tyrol, was involved in a serious accident. And now, he is back on top of a mountain.

On March 21, 2021, Chris’ life changes abruptly during an “ordinary” ski tour, as he calls it. At full speed, he crashes into a tree, breaking his lower left leg, tearing every ligament in his knee and suffering massive tissue damage that ultimately leads to transplants. Something also shatters inside of him. The man he once was no longer exists. What follows are tough times. For over a week, it is uncertain whether his lower leg needs to be amputated. In the end, he keeps his leg, but according to the doctors, he will never ski again. Weeks of pondering and agonizing pass, and the question of “why?” keeps coming up. While his friends post pictures of ski tours on Instagram, Chris is in hospital – thwarted by fate.

During a session, a physiotherapist casually tells him about his ski touring day – him, who, according to the prognoses, will never ski again; who, instead of going to kindergarten as a three-year-old, preferred to spend the whole day on the mountain; for whom the mountains simply mean everything. If he could do one thing all day and make a living from it, it would be skiing. There is nowhere else to find the peace and quiet that he feels when he’s on skis. This peace of mind – he misses it terribly. Right now, when he would need it most. At this moment at the hospital, he is 100 percent convinced that he will never ski to the top of a mountain again. Instead, he stands at his own personal abyss.

But he doesn’t give up. Slowly, he begins to accept the situation and uses his energy for rehabilitation. For progress – moving forward, step by step. Into the unknown at first. But as he makes progress, his confidence grows. All his knowledge as a sports scientist and his experience as a trainer help him at this time. He trains himself, his body – and, above all, his mind. And now, exactly 1,000 days after the accident, he is back at the base of a ski tour. Together with Fabio Keck and a film crew.

Doubts cross Chris’ mind. But then he sets off, one step in front of the other. Just don’t ponder, don’t let yourself be led astray. Have faith. With every step that Chris ascends the mountain, he gathers confidence that he is ready for this endeavor, that it will go well, and that this will be a great day. The glistening snow, the clear air, and – finally – that peace of mind again. All of this boosts his confidence.

After 1,000 days, he is standing where he was told he would never stand again: at the summit of a mountain, conquered on skis. It is Chris’ very personal Olympic gold medal. What counts is not the altitude, the difficulty or the competition. The only thing that counts is to stand here, to have made it

this far. Against all odds. Today, here at this summit, he is a different person. With the deep conviction that things will turn out well. And that with the necessary actionism, every crisis in life can be overcome. Just don’t stand still. Even when the going gets tough.

Just like today. The most difficult part of this tour is yet to come: the downhill run. The bit where the accident happened; the moment that suddenly changed his life. Chris shoulders his rucksack and prepares himself. A brief moment of hesitation. “Hello, can we go?” asks Fabio. “Yes,” says Chris and drops in. Into the white powder, out of the dark thoughts about the accident and the “what if?” And then, suddenly, everything is as

Beyond words – that’s actually the full story of Chris Ebenbichler. The path he traveled in those 1,000 days. The ups and downs of success and failure. The way he has picked himself up again and again, never giving up and motivating himself anew every day. Those things that are possible if you firmly believe in them and give it your all.