Streif, Kandahar, Lauberhorn and Saslong are among the most spectacular downhill routes in the speed specialists’ calendar.
In the men’s Alpine Ski World Cup, the speed specialists race down the toughest slopes. The key places have illustrious names such as Mousetrap, Dog’s Head, Kingdom of Heaven and Hell.
The Streif in Kitzbühel
It is one of the most spectacular descents in the World Cup. The Streif in Kitzbühel is one of the most dangerous race tracks in the world. Length 3,312 meters, height difference 860 meters. And the backdrop is also gigantic: 50,000 spectators are waiting for the speed riders at the finish – often including celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The key points: the starting slope is 160 meters long and 51 percent steep. After the mousetrap, steep slope (85% gradient), bridge shot, Hausbergkante and traverse, the maximum speed is reached on the target slope. The athletes race towards the finish at speeds of up to 140 kilometers per hour.
Special treat: The winner gets a red gondola. Thomas Dreßen won once in 2018. Before him, Ludwig Leitner (1965) and Sepp Ferstl (1978+1979) had already reached the top. The record winner is the Swiss Didier Cuche (4 x Hahnenkamm descent + 1 additional race).
The Kandahar in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
The Kandahar in Garmisch-Partenkirchen also presents itself as an icy challenge. For women: length 2,920 meters, height difference 720 meters, maximum gradient 85 percent. For men: 3,330 meters, height difference 920 meters, maximum gradient 92 percent.
The key points are called Tröglhang, Himmelreich, Eishang, Krammersprung, Hölle and Freie Fall.
Special treat: Since 2008, the winner has received a piece of Kandahar in the form of a carved boulder as a prize. With Thomas Dreßen (2020) and Markus Wasmeier (1992), two Germans are also on the list of the best. The Canadian Steve Podborski and the Swiss Roland Collombin hold the record with three wins each.
The Lauberhorn in Wengen
At 4,480 meters, the Lauberhorn run is the longest in the Alpine World Cup. It has the greatest gradient (90%) and speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour can be reached. After more than two and a half minutes of maximum stress on the entire body, your thighs are burning.
According to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, the Frenchman Luc Alphand is said to have once called the shooting drive the “Jurassic Park” of racing. He couldn’t have meant the view, because the backdrop is fantastic with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. 1,028 meters of altitude are covered during the journey.
The key points are the Russisprung, Hundschopf, Kernen-S and the Haneggschuss.
The Saslong in Val Gardena
The Saslong in the Dolomites is also one of the absolute World Cup classics. Right at the beginning, a 100-meter-long steep section awaits the drivers on the 3,446-meter-long descent. The first key point follows in the middle. The camel hump. These are three bumps that can only be overcome by jumping. The athletes jump up to 70 meters.
The next task is the Ciaslat meadow with numerous bumps and four curves. The gradient at the steepest point is 56.9%. The start and finish are 839 meters apart. The descent in Val Gardena is particularly demanding because of the many jumps.
Olympic downhill Cortina d’Ampezzo
The “Olympia delle Tofane” or the Tofane for short should of course not be missing from the series of legendary World Cup downhill runs. Due to the panorama of the Dolomites, it is considered one of the most beautiful routes on the calendar. The start is at an altitude of 2,320 meters below Tofane. A little later the athletes reach the most spectacular spot.
In the Tofana Schuss, drivers can reach top speeds of up to 140 km/h on a gradient of 65%. This is followed by a jump of up to 40 meters between the rock massifs. The “Duca d’Aosta” jump, the “Delta” curve and the “Scarpadon” are three other very demanding key points. At the finish, the athletes climbed 768 meters.