Hermann Maier films wild nature documentary after decades on ski slopes

Hermann Maier just wrapped seven days of filming in Austria’s Thayatal National Park for the ORF documentary series “Universum.”

What happened?

On camera for ORF’s “Universum” series, Hermann Maier spent a week shooting in Hardegg-Austria’s smallest city-inside the rugged Thayatal wilderness. The 53-year-old Salzburger called it a real change of scenery after decades on the slopes. “A proper switch from the ski runs,” he told noe.ORF.at.

Why it matters for Hermann Maier

The shoot was a deliberate break from the speed of his racing years. “That’s probably an age thing,” Maier said. “In my younger days I’d have raced straight through.” Instead, he learned patience-waiting for the perfect light and the right animal shot. “Most things don’t go to plan,” he admitted with a grin. “Especially not with me.”

Behind the lens in Thayatal

The crew captured sweeping landscapes and wildlife in a valley once sliced by the Iron Curtain. Maier toured the Thayatal bridge, now reclaimed by forest, and praised how nature had erased the old border. “You see how beautiful this place really is when humans step back,” he said.

What comes next?

After seven days in the field, Maier returned to Salzburg. The finished episode, “Meine Heimat-Der Nationalpark Thayatal,” premieres on ORF this autumn.