Jul 27, 2016 · Kitzbühel, Austria No list of the most challenging downhills would be complete without the famous and feared Hahnenkamm Races on Kitzbühel’s Streif. The key facts are famed: 85 per cent gradient,...
The Streif in Kitzbühel: The World’s Hardest Downhill. The most extraordinary downhill event in the world will take place on January 26 th in Kitzbühel, Austria. All eyes will look to the mountain in awe of the most difficult and thrilling ski race ever known. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to …
Aug 18, 2010 · - The 'Streif' in Kitzbuehel (Austria) is the world's toughest downhill course: Watch this video and race down 800m (2,820ft) altitude in ... No Glasses needed!
Jan 11, 2022 · Behind the scenes at the world’s hardest downhill: The Streif in Kitzbühel January 11, 2022 The most spectacular downhill event in the world is celebrating its 82nd anniversary. Since the very beginning, the organizing committee of the Kitzbühel Ski Club have developed this race into what has become a legend in the world of sports.
The Streif in Kitzbühel: The World’s Hardest Downhill. The most extraordinary downhill event in the world will take place on January 26 th in Kitzbühel, Austria. All eyes will look to the mountain in awe of the most difficult and thrilling ski race ever known. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Streif!
What makes it the most spectacular downhill ski event for both spectators and athletes alike? The Streif is the downhill event of the Hahnenkamm Race weekend, where the Audi FIS World Cup Super G, Slalom, and Downhill events take place every winter. The Streif is a source of pride and fame for the town of Kitzbühel.
The Streif has been an integral part Kitzbühel’s history since the first competition was organized by the Kitzbühel Ski Club in 1931. At the time, only 26 skiers participated in the competition, and the legendary Streif was born.
With a blind landing, skiers won’t see their landing until they’re air-born, when it’s too late to adjust their trajectory! Just a fraction of a second after landing, athletes are skiing on the Traverse, which pushes hard right, in the direction of the fence.
The Starthaus, the start gate of the Streif, is beyond intimidating. At a soaring 1,665 meters above sea level and with a breathtaking 51% gradient descent, the Starthaus should be shaking with nervous energy.
The event annually attracts 90,000 visitors and over 300 million TV spectators, and the attention is welcomed by the team that work year-round to bring it all to life.
With vivid stories, pro big mountain skier, Jim Ryan, shares the journey of his Wilderness Emergency Technician Course.
Nostalgia runs deep in this reflection from pro skier, Marcus Caston. Ski media has changed... and we miss the old days.
On October 6, trail running shoe brand Inov-8 will host The Descent, a 350-meter downhill running race that follows this notorious ski slope.
The format of the race is unique. Runners will set off in 30-second intervals, through the gates of the iconic start-house at the top of the Hahnenkamm.
Andermatt has 29km of black pistes and a vast amount of challenging off-piste terrain too. This makes it one of the hardest ski resorts in Europe. The Gemsstock mountain is home to some of the best freeride skiing and draws some of the best skiers around. There are many steep descents and verticles to try with a local mountain guide.
It is home to a World Cup downhill course and has some of the most challenging off-piste terrain. Chamonix is one of the hardest ski resorts in Europe. It has 41km of black runs and the freeride opportunities are excellent. You can test yourself in the Vallée Blanche descents or try the off-piste on the Grands Montets glacier.
Fernie is one of the most difficult ski resorts in Canada, with 42km of black slopes. It also has plenty of steep off-piste terrain to challenge yourself on. It has a fantastic snow record too, which is great if you’re a keen powder hound. For the best tree skiing head to Siberia or the Timber Bowl.
Be prepared for some seriously steep skiing. Jackson Hole is one of the most difficult ski resorts in North America. It has 16km of black pistes, but it’s the off-piste terrain that is like no other. Explore plenty of steep gullies, open powder bowls and untracked backcountry terrain.
Numerous ski movies have been filmed here. The legendary G.N.A.R movie in honour of the freeride legend Shane McConkey has given the ski resort a big following for its off-piste terrain. Palisades Tahoe is one of the most difficult ski resorts in the USA. The legendary Fingers is the place to go on a powder day.
This ski resort plays hard and parties hard! The après scene in St Anton is notorious, but it’s also one of the hardest ski resorts in Europe. It was home to the World Alpine Ski Championships in 2001 and still stages World Cup races. There are 30 black runs to challenge yourself on if you’re an advanced skier.
Another Swiss ski destination to make our most difficult ski resorts list is Verbier. It’s considered one of the hardest ski resorts in Europe because of its steep off-piste terrain and 103km of black pistes. There are marked itineraries that are patrolled by mountain rescue on the Col des Gentianes Tortin and the Mont Gele.
20 Streif-Wanderweg - Kitzbuhel, Austria: One Of The Hardest Downhill Runs In The World. redbull.com. Surrounded by majestic peaks and green pine trees, Kitzbuhel is one of the most charming Alpine towns in Austria. The town is also known for the famous Hahnenkamm downhill race.
The Streif-Wanderweg course on the northeast face of Hahnenkamm, however, is considered one of the most dangerous downhill runs in the world – skiers have to overcome steep slopes and 260-foot jumps.
Great snow conditions, modern equipment, and serene views - Kvitfjell is simply one of the most beautiful resorts in Norway. Yet, Kvitfjell is not your typical holiday destination as the resort is home to the longest slope in Norway: Olympiabakken. This slope is over 2,600 feet in elevation and full with steep sections.
Ski resorts have a lot to offer: spa and wellness services, memorable hikes, mulled wine, delicious food, winter activities, and even ice hotel accommodation. Skiing, in particular, is one of the most popular activities – a wonderful experience with numerous health and social benefits. Although winter sports can be expensive, there’s something magical about conquering crazy terrain at high speeds.
2 Hakuba 47 , Japan: One Of The Most Dangerous Ski Resorts In The World. pinterest.com. With a variety of thrilling runs, beautiful views, and volcanic peaks, Hakuba 47 is one of the most famous ski resorts in Japan. In fact, experienced skiers can choose from different double-diamond runs and hidden slopes.
Yet, in some parts of the Balkans, such as Brezovica Ski Resort in Kosovo, skiers can see abandoned lifts and lodges.
Christmas Chute is located in Alyeska Resort, the biggest ski resort in Alaska. This run - one of the most dangerous slopes in the world - is suitable only for seasoned skiers. According to the activetimes.com., the run is narrow, icy, and with a 50% gradient. Just look at the picture above!
The Olympic downhill course at Kvitfjell ski resort in Norway sticks out in a couple of ways. Kvitfjell (which is Norwegian for “white mountain”) is located 50 kilometres north of Lillehammer, on the verge of the Jotunheimen Mountains. The course at the 1994 winter Olympics started at the lowest altitude above sea level of all Olympic Alpine skiing competitions, except for the runs of Oslo 1952, at Norefjell, which were situated even lower.
American Tommy Moe won the Kvitjell Olympic Downhill by a split second.
Both resorts can be reached by ski bus from the centre of Innsbruck. You can even take the city tram to get to Patscherkofel. So if you’d like to combine your downhill adventure with a nice city trip, Patscherkofel and Axamer Lizum are the places for you to go.
Today, Kvitfjell is a rather small resort with five beginner slopes, 11 blue, six red, and three black slopes. The upper and lower Olympiabakken slopes are the most difficult ones, with some rather steep passages, leading from the very top on the mountain to the base station. Their outline was designed by Bernhard Russi as well. Russi once claimed that the Kvitfjell course was his favourite of all times: slow curves, jumps, quite a lot of movement in the straight parts – features that influenced significantly the way downhill runs are designed.
The women’s downhill had originally been scheduled for nearby Hafjell, where the technical events were held. But the female athletes successfully protested against the too flat and easy course.
The Snowbasin resort is one of the oldest in the United States, opened in 1939 , but received many updates prior to the Olympic winter games. To get to the 2002 downhill course, you have to take the John Paul Express Quad from the base station, then the Allen Peak Tram right up to Allen Peak. The ‘Grizzly Downhill’, marked as a black diamond trail for advanced skiers, takes you right back to the base station, as does the equally challenging, though a little less steep, women’s ‘Wildflower Downhill’, designed by Bernhard Russi as well.
Called ‘Franz’s Downhill’, the course started on Whistler Mountain’s Wildcard slope, cut across Jimmy’s Joker, joined the Lower Franz’s slope before merging with the men’s downhill course, the ‘Dave Murray’. Some criticised the fast and selective piste as too difficult, while several athletes described it as a truly Olympic challenge.
WHERE: Wegen, Switzerland. At 8,110 feet above sea level, Lauberhorn is the longest downhill ski run in the world. This 2.7-mile course shoots skiers down the mountain at break-neck speeds unheard of anywhere else. It’s not unusual to regularly hit an electrifying 100 mph.
You don’t have to be an Olympic contender to ski like one—Kvitfjell’s Olympiabakken course is built for speed and competition. Stretching two miles long, this run is known for its steep inclines and bumpy ice patches. Originally used in Norway’s 1994 Winter Games, Olympiabakken still remains a favorite among pro skiers participating in Kvitfjell’s annual World Cup Ski Competition.
Dubbed “The Steepest Ski Run in America”, Body Bag’s 275-foot drop is enough to jolt the life out of anyone. Set on the snowcapped peaks of Crested Butte, Bod Bag lures extreme skiers from all over the world come to experience the famed drop and 45-degree pitched slopes. Those brave enough to ski down this death-defying trail are met with 700 feet of pure adrenaline and fluffy Colorado powder.
Set at a sharp 78-degree angle, Harakiri is one dicey trail. A severe vertical incline and icy conditions turn skis into blades, forcing skiers to really carve their way down the mountain. A slice in the wrong direction and you’ll be eating snow for the length of the run as you desperately try to regain your balance.
WHERE: Alyeska Resort, Alaska. Located inside Alaska’ s biggest ski resort, Christmas Chute is a nail-biting run stuffed with steep slides and deep cut chutes. Hop on Chair 6 and follow expert skiers to the edge of this double diamond trail.
Skiers who make it down the mountain alive consider themselves lucky. La Grave has claimed several lives, making it one of the deadliest ski runs on the planet. INSIDER TIP Don’t try this alone. Always bring a guide to steer you through unmarked ski zones. PHOTO: CSNafzger/Shutterstock.