Introduction
Josef "Sepp" Walcher (December 8, 1954 – January 22, 1984) was an Austrian World Cup alpine ski racer. He specialized in the downhill event and won the gold medal at the World Championships in 1978 at Garmisch, West Germany.
Born in Schladming, Styria, Walcher made his World Cup debut in December 1972, two days after his 18th birthday. Two months later, he scored his first World Cup points (and podium) with a runner-up finish at St. Moritz, Switzerland. Walcher's first World Cup victory came in January 1977 at Morzine, France, his seventh podium. His best two seasons were 1977 and 1978, finishing runner-up to compatriot Franz Klammer in the downhill standings both years. A week prior to his win at the world championships in 1978, Walcher won consecutive downhills at Kitzbühel, Austria.
Walcher retired after the 1982 season with five World Cup victories and thirteen podium finishes. Two years later, he was killed at age 29 in a skiing accident in a benefit race in 1984 at his hometown of Schladming.
World Cup results
Season standings
| Season | Age | Overall | Slalom | Giant Slalom |
Super G | Downhill | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 18 | 28 | — | — | 11 | ||
| 1974 | 19 | 29 | — | — | 11 | ||
| 1975 | 20 | 23 | — | — | 12 | ||
| 1976 | 21 | 30 | — | — | 13 | — | |
| 1977 | 22 | 8 | — | — | 2 | ||
| 1978 | 23 | 7 | — | — | 2 | ||
| 1979 | 24 | 39 | — | — | 13 | ||
| 1980 | 25 | 22 | — | — | 7 | — | |
| 1981 | 26 | 41 | — | — | 14 | — | |
| 1982 | 27 | 50 | — | — | 18 | — |
Race podiums
- 5 wins – (5 DH)
- 13 podiums – (13 DH)
| Season | Date | Location | Discipline | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 11 Feb 1973 | St. Moritz, Switzerland | Downhill | 2nd |
| 1974 | 18 Dec 1973 | Zell am See, Austria | Downhill | 3rd |
| 1975 | 5 Jan 1975 | Garmisch, West Germany | Downhill | 3rd |
| 1976 | 25 Jan 1976 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Downhill | 3rd |
| 1977 | 18 Dec 1976 | Val Gardena, Italy | Downhill | 2nd |
| 30 Jan 1977 | Morzine, France | Downhill | 2nd | |
| 31 Jan 1977 | Downhill | 1st | ||
| 12 Mar 1977 | Heavenly Valley, USA | Downhill | 1st | |
| 1978 | 11 Dec 1977 | Val d'Isère, France | Downhill | 3rd |
| 20 Jan 1978 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Downhill | 1st | |
| 21 Jan 1978 | Downhill | 1st | ||
| 1979 | 16 Dec 1978 | Val Gardena, Italy | Downhill | 1st |
| 1980 | 18 Jan 1980 | Wengen, Switzerland | Downhill | 2nd |
World championship results
| Year | Age | Slalom | Giant Slalom |
Super-G | Downhill | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 21 | — | — | 9 | — | |
| 1978 | 23 | — | 27 | 1 | — | |
| 1980 | 25 | — | — | — ^ | — |
Olympic results
| Year | Age | Slalom | Giant Slalom |
Super-G | Downhill | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 21 | — | — | 9 | ||
| 1980 | 25 | — | — | — ^ |
^