Lauberhorn

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The Lauberhorn Ski race, Lauberhornrennen takes place annually in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland on the longest downhill run in the world. Its enormous length of about 4455 meters with ride times about 2:30 minutes (about 1 minute longer than regular downhill races) and the achievement of top speeds close to 160 km/h (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 uniqe 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 meters jump over a rock nose), the Brüggli-S (passing a small bridge with 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 establied attraction is also the airshow of the Patrouille Suisse.

Key Sections

The best known sections of the Lauberhorn downhill race are the following (in top down order): The Russisprung (Russi jump), named after the Swiss skier Bernhard Russi, in the top part of the slope. Afterwards the jump over the rock nose Hundschopf followed by the Minsch-Kante and the long curve Canadian Corner which leads to the narrow Brüggli-S (an almost 90 degrees curve followed by a small bridge and another 90 degrees curve). After the Wasserstation, a tunnel underpassing the local railroad Wengernalpbahn, the slope becomes flatter before the skier reaches Haneggschuss, where top speeds of almost 160 km/h are achieved. This is followed by the spectacular Silberhornsprung (high jump) and the entrance into the Österreicherloch (austrian hole) with transfer to the Ziel-S (finish-S) and finish jump.

History

The Lauberhorn downhill race takes place since 1930 and is one of the oldest ski races in the world. The different sections in the run got their names from special incidents happening there: The Canadian Corner is named after many Canadians dropped out at that place. The Österreicherloch (austrian hole) got its name by the race in 1954 when 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 (because he was too far to the right) into the slope boundary, where he hooked one ski in the security net and suffered severe injuries in the lower part of the body. He died shortly after the accident of internal bleeding. The run was not held in 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 around 4.5 km.
• The start is on 2315 meters altitude and the run overcomes an altitude difference of 1025 meters until reaching the finish on 1290 meters in Wengen.
• The course record of 2:24,23 minutes is held by the Italian Kristian Ghedina, who won in 1997 reaching an average speed of 106,33 km/h.
• Top speed is achieved at the end of the Haneggschuss with almost 160 km/h (the highest speed ever measured in the FIS world cup is said to be reached in 2005 by the Italian Stefan Thanei with 158 km/h).
• The average downhill grade of the run is 14.7 degrees (= about 33 percent).
• The maximumg downhill grade is found at the Hundschopf jump with 42 degrees (= about 93 percent).
• Record winner ist Karl Molitor, who won six times between 1939 and 1947.
• 23 victories were celebrated by Swiss skiers, 27 by Austrian.
• 24'500 spectators set the record at the Lauberhorn downhill race 2002.
• 16'000 Meter security nets are set up at the border of the downhill run, thereof around one kilometer high security nets and 800 meters rejection canvas.
• The course was featured in the 1969 Robert Redford movie "Downhill Racer" which also co-starred Gene Hackman.

Winners List

¹ A super combination was held (short downhill and a slalom)
² The slalom took place in Veysonnaz

External link

• http://www.lauberhorn.ch

 

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