Lauberhorn
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The Lauberhorn ski race (German: Lauberhornrennen) takes place annually near Wengen in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland on the longest downhill run in the world. Its enormous length of 4.455 km (2.77 miles) results in run times of two and a half minutes (about 30-45 seconds longer than regular downhill races) and the achievement of top speeds close to 160 km/h (100 mph) (highest maximum speed in the FIS world cup) is a huge challenge for all riders. Additionally, the downhill run is said to be the most beautiful in the world as it is embedded in a unique landscape - surrounded by the massive mountains of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, and running along the edge of the Lauterbrunnen valley - and is also known for its spectacular run arrangements as the Hundschopf (40 m jump over a rock nose), the Kernen-S (passing a small bridge at around 80 km/h) and the Wasserstation Tunnel (underpassing the viaduct of the local railroad Wengernalpbahn).
The Lauberhorn ski races (downhill and slalom) are one of the biggest snow events in the world, attracting around 30,000 spectators each year. An established attraction is also the airshow of the Patrouille Suisse. The 2009 races are scheduled for January 16-18 (super-combined, downhill, and slalom.
The races in Wengen are held in mid-January, usually the week prior to the Hahnenkamm, another classic downhill race, held in Kitzbühel, Austria.
Key Sections
The best known sections of the Lauberhorn downhill race are the following (in descending order):
- The Russisprung (Russi jump), named after Swiss skier Bernhard Russi, in the top part of the slope.
- The jump over the rock nose Hundschopf followed by the Minsch-Kante and the long curve, Canadian Corner, which leads to the narrow Kernen-S (named after 2003 winner Bruno Kernen) formerly known as Brüggli-S (a nearly 90° curve, followed by a small bridge and another 90° curve).
- The Wasserstation, a tunnel underpassing the local railroad Wengernalpbahn, after which the slope becomes significantly flatter.
- Haneggschuss, where top speeds approach 160 km/h (100 mph).
- The spectacular Silberhornsprung (high jump) and the entrance into the Österreicherloch (Austrian hole) which transitions into the Ziel-S (finish-S) and finish jump.
History
The Lauberhorn downhill race has taken place since 1930 and is one of the oldest ski races in the world. The Canadian Corner is named after the many Canadian ski racers who aggressively attacked this part of the course and subsequently fell during the race. The Österreicherloch (Austrian hole) got its name from the race in 1954 in which almost all participating Austrian skiers (including Toni Sailer) fell there.
In 1991 the young Austrian skier Gernot Reinstadler died in the Ziel-S(Finish-S). He was not able to finish the S-curve properly and therefore jumped into the slope boundary (because he was too far to the right), where he hooked one ski in the security net and suffered severe injuries to the lower body. He died shortly after the accident from internal bleeding. The race was not held that year. In reaction to this tragic event, the slope boundary at that place was also equipped with rejection canvas and the gates were moved upwards and more to the left.
Facts and Figures
- Longest downhill race in the FIS World Cup, with a length of 2.768 miles (4.455 km).
- The course's starting elevation is 7595 feet (2315 m) above sea level; it descends 3363 vertical feet (1025 m) to the finish at 4232 feet (1290 m) in Wengen.
- The course record of 2:24.23 is held by the Kristian Ghedina of Italy, who won in 1997 with an average speed of 66 mph (106.33 km/h).
- Top speeds of nearly 100 mph (160 km/h) are achieved at the end of the Haneggschuss. (The highest speed ever measured in a FIS World Cup race was reached at this section in 2005 by Stefan Thanei of Italy at 98 mph (158 km/h).
- The average grade of the run is 33 percent (14.7 degrees).
- The maximum downhill grade is found at the Hundschopf jump, at 42 degrees (93% grade).
- The largest crowd was recorded in 2002, when 24,500 observed the Lauberhorn downhill race.
- Ten miles (16 km) of security nets are set up at the border of the downhill run, surrounded by around 1000 m (3280 ft) of high security nets and 800 meters (2625 ft) of rejection canvas.
- The course was one of several featured in the 1969 movie Downhill Racer, starring Robert Redford and Gene Hackman.
- The record holder for the most wins is Karl Molitor, who won six times between 1939 and 1947.
- Austrian skiers have won 27 times; Swiss skiers have captured 23 victories.
- The first non-European to win the race was Ken Read of Canada in 1980. Lasse Kjus of Norway is the only Scandinavian champion, winning in 1999. Bill Johnson was the first American winner in 1984; other U.S. winners include Kyle Rasmussen (tie in 1995), Daron Rahlves (2006), and Bode Miller (2007 & 2008).
Winners List
1 A super combination was held (short downhill and a slalom).
² The slalom took place in Veysonnaz.
³ Instead of a slalom a Super G was held.
See also
External links
- Lauberhorn.ch - official site - (in English)
- Lauberhorn.ch - official site - (in German)
- YouTube video - Josef "Pepi" Strobl at Lauberhorn - 3rd place - 12-Jan-2002 [1]
- YouTube video - Bill Johnson- near wipe-out 20 seconds from finish & victory - 15-Jan-1984
- Alpine Ski Maps.com - winter map of Wengen area
- Alpine Ski maps.com - summer map of Wengen area
46°35′30″N 7°56′54″E / 46.59167°N 7.94833°E
