Hermann Maier films new ORF documentary in Thayatal National Park

Hermann Maier, the alpine skiing legend, swapped the ski slopes for the forests of Hardegg this month to film a new ORF documentary. The seven-day shoot wrapped on the Austrian-Czech border, where Maier captured untouched nature for his upcoming special **Hermann Maier: Meine Heimat-Der Nationalpark Thayatal**.

What happened during the shoot?

Maier and his crew embedded in the Thayatal National Park, Austria’s smallest town by population. The setting offered a stark contrast to his racing days, where speed and adrenaline ruled. Now 53, he spent hours waiting for the perfect shot of flora and fauna. “Patience is probably an age thing,” Maier told noe.ORF.at. “In my younger years, I’d never have lasted this long.”

The Thayatal landscape, split by the Thaya River, once marked the Iron Curtain between Austria and the Czech Republic. Maier called it “impressive how nature reclaims what humans once divided.” He noted the area’s transformation from a guarded border zone to a thriving ecosystem. Filming spanned both sides of the river, with crews operating in Hardegg and the Czech town of Vranov nad Dyji.

Why this matters for Hermann Maier

The project marks Maier’s shift from competitive skiing to storytelling. After 25 World Cup titles and two Olympic golds, he’s now sharing his love for untouched landscapes. The documentary aims to spotlight conservation efforts in the park, where human interference remains minimal. “You see how beautiful these places are-and how we must keep them that way,” Maier said.

His patience on set mirrors his racing discipline. Where once he attacked pistes at full speed, now he waits for deer to cross or eagles to soar. “The nature sets the rules,” he said. “You just adapt as best you can.” The shoot wasn’t flawless-Maier joked about improvising when animals didn’t cooperate-but those surprises fueled his excitement.

What comes next for the documentary?

The new episode is slated for an autumn 2026 broadcast on ORF. Maier’s team edited footage from the Thayatal’s 1,330 hectares, including the iconic Thayatalbrücke bridge. The film will air as part of his **Universum** series, blending adventure with environmental themes.

Maier returns home to Salzburg after seven days of filming. The project reflects his post-racing mission: to inspire awe for nature’s quiet corners. “I now enjoy watching what happens off the slopes,” he said. “That’s the real reward.”