80 Years Of "The Hahnenkamm"
80 Years Of "The Hahnenkamm"
Published : 21-Jan-2011 10:04
Kitzbuhel
The biggest annual race in the World Cup calendar looks set to take place as scheduled this weekend, 80 years after its first staging.
The 71st Hahnenkamm, a race first staged in 1931, will take place on the famous Streif slopes above Kitzbuehel, attracting a probable 60,000 fans to the world famous resort, and of course millions more to TV screens worldwide.
As with a Grand Nationbal win for a joickey, success here means your status as a 'ski legend' is guaranteed for life. You'll join the list of greats that have crowned their careers with Hahnenkamm wins including Sailer, Killy, Klammer, Zurbriggen, Maier, Eberharter, Defago and Cuche to name but a few.
Although most famous for the downhill on Saturday, the Hahnenkamm weekend includes a Super G race on Friday 21st and a slalom on Sunday 23rd. A combination award will be given to the racer who gets the best time overall in the races.
The races gor the go ahead to take place a fortnight ago when conditions were judged excellent and fresh snow in the past few days should hopefully not hamper events too much.
Racers to watch out for on Saturday include defending champion Didier Cuche as well as Carlo Janka and the latest famous Zurbriggen – Silvan. Austria's Michael Walchhofer, vclose now to retirement, is a past winner and seen as an outside chance. Bode Miller, who was second in 2008, has the right temperament to win the race and Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal the chance to become the country's first ever winner on the Streif.
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