The Alpine Ski World Cup Tour heads around a lot of ski resorts in Europe and North America. Each year the world’s best ski racers battle it out to be crowned champion in male and female competition. Whether it is the iconic Hahnenkamm ski week in Kitzbühel or the epic Adelboden Giant Slalom, the atmosphere is electric. Take a look at the best ski racing events below.
Hahnenkamm Race Week – Kitzbühel, Austria
‘Hahnenkamm’ which translates to ‘Rooster’s Comb’, is the name of skiing’s most iconic ski racing event. The mountain is shaped like a rooster comb and has kept its name for these ski races. Thousands of fans flock to Kitzbühel each year to watch the challenging ‘Streif’ (Stripe) downhill race. Even the world’s best skiers get nervous about this course because of the steepness, blind drops, incredible speeds and danger.
Watching the ski race is an amazing experience with an electric atmosphere. If you stay the whole week you can watch the Super G, Downhill and Slalom races in the Austrian ski resort. British ski fans will also love this race weekend after Dave Ryding won the 2022 Kitzbühel slalom. There are fantastic parties, VIP sections and athlete signings throughout the week to add to the fun.
Lauberhorn Weekend – Wengen, Switzerland
Named after the mountain it is staged on, the Lauberhorn races are considered an absolute classic in the ski racing world. It is one of the longest ski races in the world and even the fittest skiers have legs full of lactic acid towards the end of the course. French ski racer Johan Clarey broke the World Cup record for speed on this course by reaching 100.6mph in 2013.
Swiss fans dominate the mountain along the course with full passion. If a Swiss ski racer is in a winning position Wengen goes crazy. It is one of the best ski races from a spectator’s point of view because there are many vantage points to watch the race. As well as the downhill race, there is the slalom course too which is always one of the toughest for technical skiers.
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Saslong Classic Downhill – Val Gardena, Italy
The beautiful setting of Val Gardena alone makes this ski racing event a must-watch. Set in the South Tyrol region amongst the Dolomites, the scenery is some of the best on the ski racing calendar. The course itself though is a beast. High speeds, huge jumps and the tricky camel humps towards the bottom of the course test some of the best skiers in the world.
The Saslong course is named after the mountain that rises behind the downhill course. It has a long history on the World Cup tour with its first race back in 1969. In addition to the amazing scenery, there’s great nightlife in the area, so you can enjoy this between the Super G and Downhill races during the weekend. Also, don’t forget the incredible South Tyrolean cuisine.
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Criterium Del La Premiere –Val d’Isère, France
The Face de Bellevarde is open to the public to ski for most of the year in Val d’Isère but for one week in December, ski racers take over the slope to compete in Giant Slalom and Slalom races. It is one of the most technically challenging ski races because of the sheer steepness. The disciplines of Slalom and Giant Slalom are great for spectators because you can watch most of the race from the bottom of the course. Giant screens also add to the atmosphere when you can see who’s got the green light on each time split.
Look out for the Team Valoche crew in the crowd which is a devoted fan club for French snowsport athletes. They dress as minions and have instruments, flares and chainsaws. If a French skier is in contention for the win you’re bound to spot them going crazy.
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The Night Race – Schladming-Daschstein, Austria
If you want a party atmosphere, the Schladming night race is the ski racing event to attend. Two slalom runs under the floodlights and 45,000 fans are in full voice throughout the night. Flares dominate the night sky as Austrian fans will on their home favourites to win one of the biggest races of the year. It’s the equivalent of an FA Cup final for Austria.
The view is fantastic too for spectators as you can see the majority of the course and look at the giant screens near the finish line too. The Planai slope is open to the public for most of the season but for this night it’s all about the world’s best skiers battling it out.
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Birds of Prey Downhill – Beaver Creek, USA
The Birds of Prey course is a classic downhill on the World Cup circuit. Beaver Creek has long been a regular stop on the FIS World Cup circuit and stages a Super G and Downhill race. Many legends such as Herman Maier, Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves, have won the speed events here. As there aren’t many US ski races the crowds are lively for the rare ski racing events.
The course itself has an average speed of 98mph and incredible jumps that make the world’s best look like they’ve been shot out of a cannon. Normally Beaver Creek is an exclusive and low-key ski resort but this weekend the town comes alive for the races
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Chuenisbärgli – Adelboden, Switzerland
Another Swiss favourite is the Chuenisbärgli course in Adelboden. Over a weekend there is a Slalom and Giant Slalom race with one of the toughest finishes to a World Cup race. Thousands of Swiss flags dominate the mountain as the world’s best technical skiers battle it out. The Giant Slalom in particular is one of the hardest races of the year.
As a live sporting spectacle it is one of the best World Cup races to see. The final steep pitch is a key point of the race and it is easy to view from the finish line stand. High speeds and technical terrain make the the racers legs burn throughout the course.
To find out more about the best ski racing events, please call our ski experts on 0207 471 7700.
