Any tips for watching the Hahnenkamm in Kitz next week?
Discussion
Hi,
Heading over with the family to Kitzbuhel next week for some skiing and, at the end of the week, to watch the awesome downhill racing.
Having never been to see a ski race live before, nor having been to Kitz before, does anyone have any tips about where to watch the race / how things work on the day etc?
I always find with these things that a little bit of insider knowledge goes a long way!
Thanks in advance!
Heading over with the family to Kitzbuhel next week for some skiing and, at the end of the week, to watch the awesome downhill racing.
Having never been to see a ski race live before, nor having been to Kitz before, does anyone have any tips about where to watch the race / how things work on the day etc?
I always find with these things that a little bit of insider knowledge goes a long way!
Thanks in advance!
I went to Kitz on the race week with some mates a long time back now. We did stand around and watch a bit of the racing but used the opportunity to get out into the surprisingly quiet ski area (once you cleared the mayhem of the race)
My one abiding memory, that will go with me to the grave, was late in the afternoon, skiing the actual course that my then heroes had raced on just a few hours before. Generally once in a lifetime opportunity (certainly if you're not a snow hound who follows the ski circuit around).
To coin a PH phrase (which normally I cant stand)...it was epic!
My one abiding memory, that will go with me to the grave, was late in the afternoon, skiing the actual course that my then heroes had raced on just a few hours before. Generally once in a lifetime opportunity (certainly if you're not a snow hound who follows the ski circuit around).
To coin a PH phrase (which normally I cant stand)...it was epic!
FUBAR said:
I went to Kitz on the race week with some mates a long time back now. We did stand around and watch a bit of the racing but used the opportunity to get out into the surprisingly quiet ski area (once you cleared the mayhem of the race)
My one abiding memory, that will go with me to the grave, was late in the afternoon, skiing the actual course that my then heroes had raced on just a few hours before. Generally once in a lifetime opportunity (certainly if you're not a snow hound who follows the ski circuit around).
To coin a PH phrase (which normally I cant stand)...it was epic!
That would be amazing! Jesus.... My one abiding memory, that will go with me to the grave, was late in the afternoon, skiing the actual course that my then heroes had raced on just a few hours before. Generally once in a lifetime opportunity (certainly if you're not a snow hound who follows the ski circuit around).
To coin a PH phrase (which normally I cant stand)...it was epic!
Surefire way to kill myself obviously given the bulletproof ice surface they race on and the cliff like aspect of the slope but if the opportunity is there - it has to be done!!
I remember watching gobsmacked (you ski on snow, right?) as for 3 or 4 days before the circus turned up, Austrian Army squadies spending day and night preparing the course. In long lines, wearing big heavy boots, they would stomp up and down the course compacting the snow, and beating and shaving the snow with big ole snow shovels then late in the afternoon the entire course was sprayed with water and left to freeze over night, repeat following day. Then to finish it off, the last thing they did the night before practice was carry up, dangling from the chairlifts, what I can only describe as large plastic fall mats (the sort of thing you would get chucked on in judo/karate etc), and then drop them at certain points on the course. These mats would then zoom down at great speed literally slicing off the top of any imperfections in the course leaving a surface Torvill & Dean would have been proud of.
Bloody amazing and scary at the same time
Snow my arse
Bloody amazing and scary at the same time
Snow my arse
Having went to Kitz last season I'd say you want to watch this from the bottom or just up on the right hand side (slalom course), it may be packed but it will be worth it, you get to see them hit the traverse then the jumps at the bottom.
Not biggin myself up, I know the strief if legendary but I didn't actually find it that hard or technical, just icy and bumpy! The red to the far right was tougher and the fleck was harder on the legs. Saying that, I'm not going 90mph!!
Not biggin myself up, I know the strief if legendary but I didn't actually find it that hard or technical, just icy and bumpy! The red to the far right was tougher and the fleck was harder on the legs. Saying that, I'm not going 90mph!!
BIST0 said:
FUBAR said:
I went to Kitz on the race week with some mates a long time back now. We did stand around and watch a bit of the racing but used the opportunity to get out into the surprisingly quiet ski area (once you cleared the mayhem of the race)
My one abiding memory, that will go with me to the grave, was late in the afternoon, skiing the actual course that my then heroes had raced on just a few hours before. Generally once in a lifetime opportunity (certainly if you're not a snow hound who follows the ski circuit around).
To coin a PH phrase (which normally I cant stand)...it was epic!
That would be amazing! Jesus.... My one abiding memory, that will go with me to the grave, was late in the afternoon, skiing the actual course that my then heroes had raced on just a few hours before. Generally once in a lifetime opportunity (certainly if you're not a snow hound who follows the ski circuit around).
To coin a PH phrase (which normally I cant stand)...it was epic!
Surefire way to kill myself obviously given the bulletproof ice surface they race on and the cliff like aspect of the slope but if the opportunity is there - it has to be done!!
That story about prepping the track is incredible - just shows how good the racers are to be able to get down something that is in effect an ice rink on a damn steep hill.
Looking forward to watching that kind of prep this year!
How hard was it to get down once the racers had been? I'd love to have a go but don't want to kill myself / the wife. I can get down most things pretty much (sometimes with my ski's still on haha!) and my wife is ok up to an easy `black`. Doable?
Looking forward to watching that kind of prep this year!
How hard was it to get down once the racers had been? I'd love to have a go but don't want to kill myself / the wife. I can get down most things pretty much (sometimes with my ski's still on haha!) and my wife is ok up to an easy `black`. Doable?
BIST0 said:
That story about prepping the track is incredible - just shows how good the racers are to be able to get down something that is in effect an ice rink on a damn steep hill.
Looking forward to watching that kind of prep this year!
How hard was it to get down once the racers had been? I'd love to have a go but don't want to kill myself / the wife. I can get down most things pretty much (sometimes with my ski's still on haha!) and my wife is ok up to an easy `black`. Doable?
I did it a couple of years ago a couple of weeks after, so the surface was much more friendly and it still demanded respect. There's a way round the very steep bit that your wife could take. The rest is just a reasonably steep black, but much more scary when you contemplate the speeds the racers take it at.Looking forward to watching that kind of prep this year!
How hard was it to get down once the racers had been? I'd love to have a go but don't want to kill myself / the wife. I can get down most things pretty much (sometimes with my ski's still on haha!) and my wife is ok up to an easy `black`. Doable?
As disco says, it's not that technical, but it is but when it's steep and icy its VERY steep and icy. If you get on that section there is no stopping half way, but it sounds you and they wife shouldnt have too much bother, as long as you have the brave pills.
I was with a group of lads with very mixed ability. I remember a steep section not long after the mousefall where one lad had managed to pick himself up and was leaning on his ski pole when another mate came slding down on his arse, shouting in fear, unable to stop, heading for a corner and rather large drop (25' or so). Mate on his arse grabbed standing mate's ski pole to stop himself, standing mate just says "not so facking likely" and lets go of the pole, sending the poor lad to his peril As luck would have it the catch fencing did its job...just! I still chuckle when I think of it.
Of 14 lads only 2 of us made it top to bottom without falling, myself and a nutjob on his first ever ski trip. He was fearless and followed me wherever I went!
I was with a group of lads with very mixed ability. I remember a steep section not long after the mousefall where one lad had managed to pick himself up and was leaning on his ski pole when another mate came slding down on his arse, shouting in fear, unable to stop, heading for a corner and rather large drop (25' or so). Mate on his arse grabbed standing mate's ski pole to stop himself, standing mate just says "not so facking likely" and lets go of the pole, sending the poor lad to his peril
As luck would have it the catch fencing did its job...just! I still chuckle when I think of it.Of 14 lads only 2 of us made it top to bottom without falling, myself and a nutjob on his first ever ski trip. He was fearless and followed me wherever I went!
Zod said:
I did it a couple of years ago a couple of weeks after, so the surface was much more friendly and it still demanded respect. There's a way round the very steep bit that your wife could take. The rest is just a reasonably steep black, but much more scary when you contemplate the speeds the racers take it at.
Ok thanks. Good to know about the route around. Totally agree about the racers. I find it unfathomable that they can do those speeds in control (to a degree!).I had a go from the start gate at the `Dave Murray Downhill` in Whistler to the lift at the bottom. Trying to go as fast as I could go (tired legs being a big limiting factor). I then watched the racers do the same at the Olympics the year after. They were something like 4/5 times faster than I was - so, so impressive.
I should add I was also overtaken by a one legged skier during my run! Went past my like I was standing still. My consolation came when I got to the lift to find out he was part of the Canadian disabled ski team.
FUBAR said:
I was with a group of lads with very mixed ability. I remember a steep section not long after the mousefall where one lad had managed to pick himself up and was leaning on his ski pole when another mate came slding down on his arse, shouting in fear, unable to stop, heading for a corner and rather large drop (25' or so). Mate on his arse grabbed standing mate's ski pole to stop himself, standing mate just says "not so facking likely" and lets go of the pole, sending the poor lad to his peril As luck would have it the catch fencing did its job...just! I still chuckle when I think of it.
Of 14 lads only 2 of us made it top to bottom without falling, myself and a nutjob on his first ever ski trip. He was fearless and followed me wherever I went!
Nothing like that feeling of being unable to stop once you've fallen over! I sometimes think ski jackets should come with some kind of anchor you can throw behind you for those situations... Not sure i'd have tried to stop him either tbh. It's damn hard stopping a sliding body. I've tried before and succeeded in only compounding the situation As luck would have it the catch fencing did its job...just! I still chuckle when I think of it.Of 14 lads only 2 of us made it top to bottom without falling, myself and a nutjob on his first ever ski trip. He was fearless and followed me wherever I went!
If visibility is ok I think I'll give it a go (time permitting). I think my wife may take the route around. The words `ice`, `steep` and `no run off` will not go down well!
Mental note: Remember to get my edges tuned the night before!
Zod said:
I did it a couple of years ago a couple of weeks after, so the surface was much more friendly and it still demanded respect. There's a way round the very steep bit that your wife could take. The rest is just a reasonably steep black, but much more scary when you contemplate the speeds the racers take it at.
The Strief is a red, not black.For anyone looking to go down this run you have to get it's reputation out of your mind, at the top looking down I was bricking it and all I could think about was the horrid crash footage on youtube. Once you get going you soon realise it's just another run.
At the speeds intermediates go down the turns are quite easy an ice manageable, the only thing you need to worry about is avoiding all the people. Where the Pro's jump you simply glide (and won't even realise it was a jump!), where they hit 90+mph you're doing 20-30mph, where they skim the bumps on the traverse you will just enoy the view, it's all relative to your ability.
Just enjoy it
Despite my comments on the reality of the run me and my mates did some serious high-5s at the bottom, as a lover of skiing it was nice to think we'd bagged one of the major downhill courses and followed in the tracks of Meyer, Zurbbrigen & Klammer
When you see the likes of Didier Couche doing 1.53s on the bumpiest conditions ever (the week before we did it) it puts it in perspective how crazy pro downhill skiers are.
(I still think I'm braver than them for going on the 3S cable car, that was the scariest thing of the entire holiday!)
When you see the likes of Didier Couche doing 1.53s on the bumpiest conditions ever (the week before we did it) it puts it in perspective how crazy pro downhill skiers are.
(I still think I'm braver than them for going on the 3S cable car, that was the scariest thing of the entire holiday!)
disco1 said:
Having went to Kitz last season I'd say you want to watch this from the bottom or just up on the right hand side (slalom course), it may be packed but it will be worth it, you get to see them hit the traverse then the jumps at the bottom.
Not biggin myself up, I know the strief if legendary but I didn't actually find it that hard or technical, just icy and bumpy! The red to the far right was tougher and the fleck was harder on the legs. Saying that, I'm not going 90mph!!
Come on, be honest, you did the 'familienabfahrt', didn't you?.... Not biggin myself up, I know the strief if legendary but I didn't actually find it that hard or technical, just icy and bumpy! The red to the far right was tougher and the fleck was harder on the legs. Saying that, I'm not going 90mph!!
Best bit about the racing is the after party, which is just superb. The atmosphere in town you could bottle and sell in the pubs, it's crazy. Always lots of Swiss around, which when Cuche wins, means lots of crazy Swiss....
Agree with where to watch from, near the slalom course you'll get a good view of the best bits of the race.
The red to the far right (Kampen?) and Fleck are a lot longer, hence harder on your legs!
You'll have a great time, it's a superb weekend to be there, just like cup final day, but for a whole weekend and with a much better atmosphere.
Couple of years ago we ended up playing pool with Graham Bell and his cameraman after the race, lovely chap, who was a little surprised when I knew so much about his career (and his brother's). Thing is, when I was growing up, Ski Sunday was the only thing we watched on TV religiously!
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