Lauberhorn

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 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.

Key Sections

The best known sections of the Lauberhorn downhill race are the following (in descending order):

• The Russisprung (Russi jump), named after the 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 Brüggli-S (an almost 90 degree curve followed by a small bridge and another 90 degrees curve).
• The Wasserstation, a tunnel underpassing the local railroad Wengernalpbahn, after which the slope becomes flatter.
• Haneggschuss, where top speeds of almost 160 km/h are achieved.
• 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 Canadians who have dropped out at that place. 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 around 4.5 km.
• The start is at an altitude of 2315 meters and the run descends 1025 meters before reaching the finish at 1290 meters in Wengen.
• The course record of 2:24,23 minutes is held by the Italian Kristian Ghedina, who won in 1997 with an average speed of 106,33 km/h.
• Top speeds of almost 160 km/h are achieved at the end of the Haneggschuss (the highest speed ever measured in the FIS world cup was 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 maximum downhill grade is found at the Hundschopf jump with 42 degrees (about 93 percent).
• The record holder for the most wins is Karl Molitor, who won six times between 1939 and 1947.
• Austrian skiers have won this race 27 times; Swiss skiers have captured 23 victories.
• The largest crowd recorded was the 24,500 spectators at the Lauberhorn downhill race 2002.
• 16,000 meters of security nets are set up at the border of the downhill run, surrounded by around 1000 meters of high security nets and 800 meters of 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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