This weekend sees the 75th anniversary of what is probably the most famous ski race in the world – the Hahnenkamm Downhill Race.
Here are 10 things you may not know about this iconic race:
- The inaugural 1931 race was won by a British skier. Nicknamed ‘the Mouse’, Gordon Cleaver took 6th place in the Downhill and 2nd in the Slalom to become the overall ‘combination’ winner.
- During race weekend, more than 25,000 people book into chalets, hotels and ‘pensions’ in and around Kitzbühel.
- The gradient at the start of The Mousetrap – the race’s steepest section – is a shocking 85%
- In 1935, the cable car developed a fault and racers had to be pulled to the start of the course by a rope pulley.
- In 75 years, the race has only been cancelled three times due to lack of snow – 1964, 1988 and 1993.
- In 1953, the Kitzbühel Section Committee ruled that all shops in Kitzbühel had to close during the race – a well-deserved break for all the hard-working shops in town.
- 1:51.58 is the course record, set by Franz Strobl in 1997.
- With five wins (in 1998, 2008, 2010 and 2011), Switzerland’s Didier Cuche is the undisputed master on the Streif. Karl Schranz and Franz Klammer follow with four wins each.
- In 1977 (at the height of Klammer-mania), a record 592 journalists were registered. In 1957, just 40 reporters covered the race.
- In the initial years after World War II, the names of the top finishers remain unknown.
You can watch the Hahenkamm Downhill Race this weekend live on Eurosport or on Ski Sunday on BBC Sport.
For details of catered chalets in Kitzbuhel, please contact the Chaletline team on 01822 617761.