Sometimes they come back. In 2026, Anton Palzer turned up at the start of the Jennerstier, five years after his last appearance. He received a star’s welcome, as someone who had left an indelible mark on the ski mountaineering community from a very young age.

Beyond the trophies and medals that confirm his standing as the most successful athlete in the history of the discipline in Germany, “Toni” represents the joy of those who hide the strain of sacrifice behind a joking manner, facing the effort without fear, knowing the reward that awaits them at the finish line. Whether it’s winning or sharing funny impressions with friends and rivals, it doesn’t matter. His motto, #goschnpoliern, which translates roughly as “Push to the limit and never give up,” encapsulates the characteristic state of mind of those who enthusiastically embrace competition and the need to take on new challenges.
But his approach doesn’t allow us to overlook the evidence: Anton’s relationship with high intensity is one that is rarely seen on the slopes. 

Rewinding the tape, we need to go back to 2009, when the then 16-year-old Toni impressed his compatriots by winning the German senior title, finishing more than three minutes ahead of his pursuers. It was an almost unprecedented demonstration of strength, followed by the realization that his future direction would follow vertical lines.

A direction that was already written in his DNA. Born in 1993, Toni was raised by his father, Wolfgang — a mountain guide and ski mountaineer — among the walls and couloirs of the mountains in Bavaria.
His aptitude for endurance emerged during family climbs and resulted in his undisputed supremacy in both vertical and individual races in the under-20 category. He achieved European and world titles, as well as a record number of World Cup successes and an early debut among the seniors in the 2013/2014 season.

Anton soon made his mark on this new stage too, claiming 15 World Cup wins and victory at the Sella Ronda with a new course record (2015, together with Damiano Lenzi) and at the Mountain Attack (2017).
But Toni’s strength and creative spirit were not confined to race routes. In 2020, the German set a new record for the traverse of the three peaks of the Watzmann massif, stopping the clock in under three hours.
After securing four podium finishes at the world championships and six overall or specialty trophies in the ISMF World Cup, in 2021 Anton Palzer decided to take on the world of professional cycling in the role of a climber, completing, among other races, a Vuelta a España and a Giro d’Italia. 

In 2026, he returned to his roots and began another chapter of his life in the mountains, the only environment that could satisfy his innate love for change and maximum intensity, from the start to the finish line. Shortly after putting his skins back on, he won both races at Jennerstier. It was a clear and unequivocal sign: at 32, Anton wants to amaze and inspire again, with the direct gaze and passion for hard effort that he has always demonstrated.
 

In 2026, you will return to competition on skins. Tell us the story behind this decision.
My years as a professional cyclist were a real life experience for me, but after five seasons I felt the need to return to the mountains and skiing, where I can fulfil myself. It is this passion that gives me the most joy in sport. Of course, in the summer you will often see me cycling around Ramsau.

What are the ingredients that make a perfect day in the mountains for you?
The right company and good conditions. And, of course, safety.

Two generations of ski mountaineers have passed since your World Cup debut in 2009. What advice would you give to those approaching the world of competition?
I would tell them to live their dream while they are young, but without forgetting their personal growth. When I think back to when my parents told me, at the age of sixteen, to focus on my education before entering the professional world, I can only thank them. It's the right attitude that makes you an athlete, as well as a willingness to make sacrifices.

What is your favorite Karpos product?
The race suit, of course. My superhero outfit.