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Rudi Weberndorfer in conversation
A rather inconspicuous message from Father Rudolf Weberndorfer that could be seen almost everywhere in the run-up to the World Championships. A motto that took on unexpected depth during our one-hour conversation. A priest who left a lasting impression with his humor, his easygoing manner, and his sustainability-focused ideas.
In his youth, he used to tear up the slopes in Vorarlberg; today, he’s happy if he can carve out a little time for his beloved hobby in the snow. Most of his time is dedicated to his three parishes in Maishofen, Viehhofen, and Saalbach, while the rest goes into projects aimed at strengthening the sense of community in this work-intensive tourist hotspot.
After 23 years of pastoral work in Koppl, he quickly realized upon arriving in Saalbach that sports were the best way to connect with the locals. Together with people like Bartl "Bascht" Gensbichler, he planned a visit to the Pope after the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025 were awarded, hoping to provide a final motivational boost for key team members. At the same time, he set out to create a program of religious sustainability. "Ski and pray" was meant to link skiing and faith, so race start times and church services were announced together. It all began on December 5 with a World Championships season-opening mass. Though it was only meant for locals, the church was packed – a sign, in his view, of a deep longing for community.
There was no need for an extra designated quiet space; people either knew where the church was or quickly found out. And if an athlete felt the need to talk, they either knew where to find the priest or would soon discover it. Many tourists stop by the church for a few moments, reflect, or light a candle; even some tech team members take this path – though, thankfully, it never makes it into the public eye. Beyond the World Championships, Father Weberndorfer is once again organizing a ski day for altar servers, another for the parish community, and one for former and current mayors. Extended cycling tours cater to the same audience. For him, sharing time in a ski hut and chatting is just as important as sports when it comes to building trust – in his view, sports serve as a gateway to pastoral care.
When time allows, he meets up with friends for wine tastings – sampling, evaluating, and chatting. Several acquaintances also help him produce schnapps. Many locals bring him apples, pears, plums, and rowanberries, and the proceeds from selling the liquor go toward projects supporting underprivileged children in crisis regions, mainly by funding their education. One of his biggest supporters is Bascht Gensbichler, who purchased a generous amount (for his people, of course).
Father Weberndorfer seasons his stories with dry humor: he recalls a guest at the Rosswaldhütte praising the local Schnaps but adding, "They say the best Schnaps is made by the priest."
Asked about Roland Leitinger’s legendary quote "Hallelujah, Oida," he bursts out laughing and remarks:
"It all depends on the tone – it can be either an expression of frustration or of joy. It’s fine if it finds its way into everyday speech; after all, we don’t just live Christianity for one hour in church but throughout the entire day."
- Rudi Weberndorfer
His latest anecdote comes from the men's Super-G: while watching the race in the crowd, an excited acquaintance approached him, saying, "There's a woman having a nervous breakdown – you must have a little Schnaps on you!" Without hesitation, he filled an empty holy water bottle with rowanberry Schnaps and handed it over. As it turned out, the woman was none other than Marco Odermatt's mother.
I wrapped up our conversation by asking him what he considered the defining success criteria for these World Championships. His answer was simple yet profound:
"If people cheer and applaud, no matter where the athlete is from or what skin color they have. Nationalism, racism, and selfishness are terrible. This festival of sport will be a success if the spirit of togetherness we experience here carries on beyond the event."
To help keep this spirit alive in Saalbach Hinterglemm, a thanksgiving service will be held in early June at Zwölfer, ending in a relaxed and convivial gathering - that much time must be allowed.
