The world’s most notorious, dangerous, blood-curdling downhill racecourse for men, called the "Streif", is challenging an international roster of top athletes for an incredible weekend of ski racing each year.
Hahnenkamm (the name translates to "Rooster’s Comb"), a mountain in the ski resort town of Kitzbühel, is home to the world’s most notorious, dangerous, blood-curdling downhill racecourse for men, called the "Streif" (or the "Stripe"). It’s a wicked, twisting, insane snake of a run, one filled with blind drops, daredevil jumps, and unforgiving grade steeps, challenging an international roster of top athletes for an incredible weekend of downhill ski racing each year. In 2022, this legendary race will be held for the 82nd time from January 17 to 23. Skiing the Hahnenkamm is a harrowing experience from start to finish. It is skiing’s ultimate test of guts for glory on the world’s most famous and feared ribbon of snow and ice. The slick, steep, twisty track propels the skiers up to speeds as fast as 140kph. The Mausefalle jump (‘Mousetrap’ in English), reached in just over eight seconds from the start, has a gradient of 85% and launches the racers 80 meters through the air. Fast and exciting, yes.
Come see all the action and athleticism from the world’s best male ski racers. Racing is starting with the juniors on Wednesday. The Hahnenkamm Downhill at Kitzbühel in the Austrian Tirol is to run twice on the infamous Streif course at the 82nd staging of the race. The Friday staging of the race, named “The Hahnenkamm Kitzbühel Downhill” with “The Hahnenkamm Original Downhill” on the Saturday, replaces the usual Super G event. The slalom race on Ganslernhang Course is still scheduled for the Sunday.
Kitzbühel is awash with fans, celebrities and sports stars each year during Hahnenkamm week. An outstanding festival atmosphere surrounds the venue, with the spotlight swinging to Kitzbühel’s bars and pubs in the evenings, featuring a variety of side events and parties—and attended by a huge number of celebrities.
Getting There: Travelling by car, you can leave your vehicle at the spacious car parks in Oberndorf or Kirchberg. From there, free shuttle trains operated by the Austrian Federal Railways take visitors to the race area in Kitzbühel. The “ÖBB Hahnenkamm Combined Ticket” conveniently brings spectators to the Kitzbühel races, too.
