Another Filipino Making A Name In International Skiing - Who is He?

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Another Filipino Making A Name In International Skiing - Who is He?

MARCO Imbang Umgeher may be unknown to many in Sebaste, Antique, the hometown of his mother. But he sure is best-known in the field of slalom skiing in Austria.

At 14, the Filipino-Austrian is making a name of his own in the combative European winter sport by bagging victories in national and international stints in Austria — turning him into a young athlete to watch.

Umgeher, who has been an avid skier since he was 5, exercise various times a week with his trainers, doing coordination exercises in Winter Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super-G. His instructors allow him to temporarily let go of classes during the race season.

His First Ski Race Was In Wiener Neustadt-Land, Gebirge

Umgeher was first noticed in a ski race in Rohr im Gebirge, a village in Wiener Neustadt-Land district, the industrialized part of Lower Austria. There, he took the first spot in a slalom race of the Schilowsky Kidscup Ost.

He earned numerous awards in competitions in this speed sport not only for himself and for his family but also for his country. Eventually, professionals from the ÖSV, or the Austrian Skiing Association, came to know him.

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Umgeher’s number one supporters are his parents, Hannes and Gemma, and older sister, Jessica.
Hannes, an Austrian, runs a car repair shop in Mayerling and helps his son with his knowledge in technique and material science. Gemma, an Antiqueña, eagerly supports her son, while Jessica cheers her brother up when pressure before a race tries to get the better of the young skier.

Umgeher aims to accomplish top standing in ski sports. And he is inspired and wholeheartedly in the game. His family is giving their all-out support, on what ever the cost of professional training and equipment.