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    Legendary Ski Slopes in Austria

    The Austrian Alps have produced countless skiing legends. But there’s a very special legend behind names like Toni Sailer, Franz Klammer, and Hermann Maier: The Kitzbüheler Streif. 

    The ski run at the Streif
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    Austria's most Legendary Ski Race

    The place: Kitzbühel
    The mountain: Hahnenkamm
    Height: 5,610 ft (1.7 km)
    Race Course: The Streif

    The name alone is enough to raise the hairs on some athletes’ backs. Each year in mid-January, the Hahnenkamm downhill race in Kitzbühel takes place on one of the most dangerous ski runs in the world. With a gradient of up to 85% and top speeds of 90 mph (145 km/h), even the most experienced skiers will feel a rush of adrenaline on the Streif.

    The winners of this legendary race will never be forgotten: The gondolas of the Hahnenkamm lift bear their names.

    Steep slopes with bypasses

    Just like the athletes who have conquered it, the Streif too has undergone some impressive development since the first international “Downhill Only” race was held almost 90 years ago. Back then, the fastest skiers reached an average speed of “just” 14 mph (23 km/h). Today, the Streif boasts an impressive length of 10,866 feet (3.3 km). Fortunately, a number of alternative routes down the steep slopes mean that not everyone has to conquer the Streif the same way that Franz Klammer or the "Herminator" Hermann Maier did.
     

    Kitzbühel and more

    Beyond the Streif, the legendary Night Slalom on the Planai in Schladming in Styria enjoys similar cult status. Up to 45,000 visitors gather to enjoy this spectacular skiing festival in the 4-mountain ski resort.
    If you’re up for it, you can certainly test your ability on one of Austria’s several World Cup courses in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Flachau, St. Anton am Arlberg, or Hinterstoder. The skiing season kicks off each year in Sölden and if you want to set yourself an ambitious goal, then why not tackle the Olympic course on the Patscherkofel in Innsbruck.
     

    Top Tip

    What it is like to ski on the pistes of the Kitzbühel Alps can be best seen on our 360° video.
    The film "Streif – One Hell Of A Ride“ gives a look behind the scenes of the most legendary and dangerous event of its kind, the Kitzbühel Hahnenkamm Race.
    Further information at www.streif-movie.com or Facebook

    Top tip:

    What it is like to ski on the pistes of the Kitzbühel Alps can be best seen on our 360° video.

    The film "Streif – One Hell Of A Ride“ gives a look behind the scenes of the most legendary and dangerous event of its kind, the Kitzbühel Hahnenkamm Race.

    Meet Peter Obernauer

    Peter Obernauer was on his way to becoming a professional ski racer, but, after a hard fall, the 19-year-old was forced to give up on his life's ambition. As a junior coach, he trained Austria’s biggest ski stars Franz Klammer, Harti Weirather, and Sepp Walcher. Later he trained Hansi Hinterseer and Hans Enn – the “legends of Kitz” – among others.

    “To go down the Streif at race pace, you really need to be a little nuts.”
    Peter Obernauer
    austria.info: Mr Obernauer, you were the race director of the Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel for nine years. It was a tremendous challenge, wasn’t it?
    Peter Obernauer: Yes, challenge is the right word for it: I was the race director for nine years and for 25 years it was my responsibility to organize sporting competitions on the race tracks! Preparing the pistes, security, technical details and structural reforms in all areas were part of my daily routine. And of course, direct cooperation with the directors of FIS.
    austria.info: The Hahnenkamm is considered to be the most difficult downhill track in the world. How has the Streif changed over the years?
    Peter Obernauer: What has changed over the years is the preparation in particular! In the 1970s, the era of Franz Klammer, the preparation was done by hand, the piste was a little bit more difficult and extremely bumpy. Today, machines are used to prepare the piste, which has made it significantly smoother. Although: Back then the top speed at the finish was over 150 kmh / 93 mph. Today it is around 140–145 kmh / 86–90 mph.
    austria.info: You once said: “You need great skill, great courage, and to be nuts”, to manage the Streif.
    Peter Obernauer: To go down the Streif at race pace, you really need to be a little nuts. Stephan Eberharter once told me that he was thinking, as he was standing at the start point for the very first time, “They are crazy, I am not going down!” Even Franz Klammer once said, “When you are sitting in the Hahnenkammbahn cable car knowing that in a few moments you will be standing up there, at the start, you do feel somewhat queasy. But the feeling you get when you draw to a stop at the finish is indescribable.”
    austria.info: What were the best moments in your career?
    Peter Obernauer: Clearly the victory of Stephan Eberharter in 2004 – and he won even though he started 30th! Another extremely touching moment was when Hermann Maier, after being heavily injured, won the Super-G in Kitzbühel. Big tears rolled from his eyes at that moment – coming from an athlete who had always been firm with himself and with others.
    austria.info: Where do you see the Streif in ten years?
    Peter Obernauer: The Hahnenkamm race will still be the figurehead of the World Cup, even in ten years! Kitzbühel is difficult, steep, extreme, and something special. It is completely different to all the other Ski World Cup runs.
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