Champions, legends, history, and tradition: Kitzbühel’s Hahnenkamm races once again astound

It is the mecca of ski racing – hallowed grounds where legends are born and past champions are revered and honored.

For Austrian ski racers, past and present, and the country’s devoted fans, there is no place quite like Kitzbühel.

This past weekend’s 85th edition of the Hahnenkamm Downhill entertained, thrilled, and, as always, inspired.

The three-day Audi FIS World Cup weekend kicked off with Friday’s Super G and appropriately, an Austrian led the way.

“Of course it’s an honor, bib No.1 here in Kitzbühel and my first time here – it didn’t end how I wanted and it hurts a little bit in front of the home crowd, but that’s skiiing,” 23-year-old Lukas Feurstein (AUT/Head) said of his run, which resulted in an unfortunate DNF after he smacked a gate and lost a ski.

Fellow Austrian Ferdl Friedensbacher won the inaugural Downhill in Kitzbühel in 1932 and little of the venerable Austrian ski resort’s longstanding tradition is lost on today’s racers.

Crawford’s victory reminiscent of ‘Crazy Canucks’

James Crawford (CAN/Head) celebrated euphorically in the finish area on Saturday, as he became the first Canadian to win the prestigious Hahnenkamm Downhill since countryman Todd Brooker in 1983. The 27-year-old turned back the clock to Canada’s ‘Crazy Canucks’ – a golden 1970s and 1980s era in which fearless Canadian speedsters lit up the Downhill scene.

“It means so much – Ken Read was a huge figure in my early years on the team and I know Todd Brooker and Steve Podborski also,” Crawford said, referring to three past Canadian champions. “To be able to share this with them, it’s definitely special.”

Crawford’s teammate Cameron Alexander (Rossignol) claimed third, the first time two Canadians had stood together on a Hahnenkamm podium since Brooker and Read in 1983.

‘It’s the ski race of the year’

While the Austrian Ski Team was unable to land on Saturday’s Downhill podium, Raphael Haaser (AUT/Fischer) energized the home crowd with his second place Super G finish, 0.11 seconds behind winner Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli).

“A childhood dream came true – really amazing and really happy with my performace today,” Haaser said. “There is no place like Kitzbühel in the world – it’s the ski race of the year.

"I’m watching these races since I was little boy and now taking home the famous Gams (coveted trophies) is amazing."

Past champions light up Hahnenkamm

Seeing past champions, cordially invited by the Kitzbühel Ski Club, wander happily around the finish area is another of Kitzbühel’s delights. And they do not come any more decorated than Didier Cuche (SUI) – the record five-time Downhill champion.

"It’s good to be here, fun to be back to watch the show,” said the 50-year-old Swiss ski legend, whose fifth Hahnenkamm came in 2012. “Being up there, getting seriously nervous and trying to come down fast, that’s the past.”

Instead, Cuche is thrilled to sit back and watch the next generation of Swiss ski racers flourish, led of course by dominant three-time Overall World Cup champion Odermatt.

“For sure, Swiss ski racing shows more potential than in over 30 years, building strength from top to bottom,” Cuche said.

Daron Rahlves – the last American to win on the Streif – is another past champion who loves everything about Kitzbühel.

“Winning Kitzbühel was always a dream of mine – there’s a huge mystique about Kitzbühel, it’s the biggest race in the world and there’s just so much hype,” said the 51-year-old Californian, who followed his Downhill triumph in 2003, with a Super G win a year later.

Like father, like son

Nils Alphand (FRA/Head) charged down the Streif, 30-years after his father, ‘Lucky’ Luc Alphand won two sprint Downhills in Kitzbühel, contested on the same day.

“It’s always a pleasure to come to Kitzbühel and it’s even better to race – my Dad won here and had an amazing career,” Alphand said. “We used to talk a lot about it when I was younger. He has always been very supportive.”

‘Proud about what you do and the risk you take’

Three-time Hahnenkamm Downhill champion Dominik Paris (ITA/Nordica) wasn’t able to achieve victory number four to equal Austrian legend Franz Klammer last weekend. But the treacherous course and wild atmosphere once again stirred his passion.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR/Atomic) is another past champion who cannot wait to feel the unique Streif rush once more. The Norwegian, winner in 2023, watched from the finish area this year as he continues to rehabilitate injuries sustained in a crash in Wengen, in January 2024.

“I love to be here and now I can actually enjoy not being nervous,” Kilde said. “For sure I’d love to race, but I know I’m not in the shape to do so. It just gives me motivation to work hard and get back on my feet.”

‘Privilege to ski the Hahnenkamm’

PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Super G silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA/Rossignol) is another athlete who relishes Kitzbühel’s storied history.

“Getting to the bottom here on Saturday, you really appreciate all the racers that have come before us and their success,” said Cochran-Siegle, competing at the Hahnenkamm races for a seventh time.

“Being able to ski this track – you just get reminded, with so many fans here on race day, of the privilege that skiing the Hahnenkamm year in and year out truly is.”

Austrian pride and pressure

Stefan Babinsky (AUT/Head) temporarily held the lead in Saturday’s Downhill, but ultimately settled for eighth. There is always next season.

But for every Austrian, the pressure felt in the mecca of ski racing, will always be immense.

“Winning here would mean everything,” Babinsky said. “It is the biggest race for any Austrian and I know that our hard work will pay off.”