Any tips for watching the Hahnenkamm in Kitz next week?

[BIST0]

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!

[BIST0]

Thanks - sounds good. Anything with a beer festival gets my vote

And when I said next week, i clearly meant the week after next!

[BIST0]

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....

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!!

[BIST0]

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?

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Zod said:

The real steep bit is terrifying. It's not the steepness, but the ice and lack of run-off.

Hmmm - I might not show this thread to my wife...

"it'll be fine darling, just remember, nice controlled turaahaaAAHAAHAHAAAAAGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!"

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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.

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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

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!