Kitzbühel Gears Up For 70th Hahnenkamm
Monday, January 11th, 2010
Kitzbühel will stage the famous Hahnenkamm downhill race from January 22nd – 24th. First staged in 1931 this month’s race will mark the 70th running of the race.
The Hahnenkamm is Austria’s biggest annual sporting event attracting at least 50,000 fans to the slopes. Along with the famous downhill race itself, this year staged three weeks before the start of the Vancouver Olympics, there are lots of other events during the weekend including slalom and giant slalom races.
Regarded as the most demanding race course on the circuit it is also the highlight of the world cup calendar, thanks to famous victories over the years by skiing legends like Franz Klammer.
The ‘Streif’ run on the Hahnemkamm is actually 3200 metres long and racers hit speeds of around 140kph (88mph).
There are, however, a few other less internationally well known runs around Kitzbühel’s mountains, better suited to we mere mortals.
Kitzbuhel itself is one of the most cosmopolitan resorts in the Alps with a wonderful old town, incredible skiing, great hotels, award-winning restaurants, cosy cafés and extensive shopping.
