HKR 2017
The Classic “Ganslernhang“
07.01.2017
The “Ganslernhang“ is a TRUE classic. It could be described as one of slalom’s most iconic courses. In the early days of the Hahnenkamm Races, the Slalom course was flagged out on the slopes of the Hahnenkamm and Ehrenbachhöhe. The Ganslernhang was used for the first time in 1937 and the race has been held on this traditional hill ever since.
Racers describe it as treacherous. Each passage is different, the Ganslernhang comprises of every kind of terrain imaginable. No two turns are the same and the appropriate rhythm must be found right from the start. The first few gates are followed by a marked transition at the Goasweg, from where the course drops to the right over a lengthy section until the slope abruptly falls away. The Steilhang surprises with its 70 percent gradient, sloping steeply down to the left, it does not allow for even the smallest of mistakes. The next big hurdle at Höhenweg and the strongly undulating terrain can only be mastered with utmost concentration and a dynamic technique. This is followed – in the mid-section of the course – by a double groundswell and extremely shifting terrain in the fall line and two major transitions, before entering the second steepest section with a 48 percent incline.
The most challenging section is the “Querfahrt” (traverse), which cannot be rehearsed. Thomas Sykora: “The spectators are so close to the race course that I was momentarily blinded by a camera flash in 1996”. The slope drops steeply to the left, where spectators seem close enough to touch, before leading into the “Kompression”, where the momentum from the traverse propels racers into a 90-degree oblique left turn (Stadl Curve). At this critical point, it is important to temper speeds whilst ensuring that no valuable time is lost. The course then heads down to the “Talei“, towards the finishing line, over a short crest and into the flat, gliding section, where it quickly becomes apparent whether skiers have retained the right tempo or not. Here, the athletes can really feel the support of their fans. Cheers can be heard from all sides as they bang their drums, sing, shout words of encouragement and clap in rounds of applause – noise levels could be compared to those of a jet plane firing its engines. This flat section just ahead of the finishing line is where tragedy, victory, or defeat is decided and where every athlete knows if he has done everything right or not.
Be part of the Ganslernhang experience!
Experience the Slalom with the greatest natural grandstand! Experience the Slalom with the world’s best ski racers!
Sunday, 22nd January 2017
10:30 hrs - Hahnenkamm-Slalom 1st run
13:30 hrs - Hahnenkamm-Slalom 2nd run