Auf Wiedersehen St. Anton. We travel through familar roads in the Tyrolean Alps to reach Ellmau, about 10 miles from Kitzbuhel. Brian has prudently book us at a new, modern ski resort hotel outside of Kitzbuhel proper where the hotel room rates are running + $1,000 a night during the Hahnenkamm race days.
We all agree to forgo skiing at the Wilder Kaiser complex for at exploratory trip in Kitzbuhel. We also decided to avoid the potential hassle of parking in Kitzbuhel and drive to St. Johan to catch a local train for short ride to the main Kitzbuhel Bahnhof (only later to discover one stop further is a Hahnenkamm station that would have spared us the 15 minute walk up hill to the center of Kitzbuhel and the Hahnenkamm race entry area.) Kitzbuhel is pulsating with pre-race day energy -- bars and pubs are overflowing with intemperate patrons, street vendors selling adult beverages are briskly serving those not in a pub, and loud speakers stereophonically blast 'party-on' theme music.
One of the main objectives of our pre-race day exploration is to confirm our tickets for the Super G and Downhill that Brian purchased from a ticket reseller. Brian has expended inordinate time and efforted in contorted communications with the ticket reseller this past week. At the main Hahnenkamm ticket office, confirmation is received that the ticket reseller has mispresented the ticket package Brian purchased. Brian quickly recovers and is able to purchase VIP tickets for the Super G, and General Admission tickets for the Downhill. Tickets secured, and breathing lighter, we wandered through Kitzbuhel, purchasing race logo merchandise and enjoying the festive pre-race ambience.
Race Day- Super G. Brilliant bluebird sky on crisp frosted snow, we are dressed for cold weather. Trains from St. Johan to the Kitzbuhel - Hahnenkamm station are running frequently, crowded with passengers, and free. Stepping off the platform in Kitzbuhel, it is apparent the pre-race tempo is elevated from the feverish pitch of yesterday. A quick reconfirmation at the main ticket office, and we enter the spectator area with a few thousand of our new best friends. We are in the VIP North Section where they serve unlimit beverages and food throughout the race. We are early and elated. We are on the upper tier, with a grand 360 degree vista of the race course, finish line and fan activies.
Race starts at 11:30 AM. There are 57 racers from 11 countries. The race course is the Streifarm, a shorter 1.33 mile run than the full 2.058 mile Streif.
10ths of a second separated the top finishers. K. Jansrud (NOR) took the top podium with a time of 1:14.61 and A. Kilde (NOR) and M.Mayer (AUS) share 2nd with a time of 1:14.77. 10 of the 57 racers DNF, with no serious crash and burns on the course. Lindsey Vonn (USA) recently retired 6 times World Cup winner and multiple Olympic metalist made a guest appearance at the awards ceremony. We wrapped up our day with another Cam 'small world' event; Cam's long term, Sun Valley friends Stacy and Josh were in Kitzbuhel so we connected up with them before taking the train back to St. Johan.
Race Day - Downhill. I decided to sideline myself after the head cold that has been stalking me for the past week reappeared with dripping sinuses early in the morning. While Brian, Anne and Cam headed to Kitzbuhel, I retreated to my toasty warm room to watch the downhill on the big screen TV in my room.
Here is a video overview of the downhill on der Streif: https://youtu.be/0fIsC8b96W4
I am not disappointed. It is a cold, cloudy day. Unlike yesterday, the Streif is in flat light and sight lines are constrained by the brimming crowd. There are 50 racers today. The Austrians and Swiss dominate again. M. Mayer (AUS) takes 1st with a time of 1:55.59 and V. Kriechmayer (AUS) and B. Feuz (SUI) tie for 2nd place with 1:55.81. Four racers DNF. Here are the winners in full flight:
Our Kitzbuhel Hahnenkamm adventure ends on the high note of an ongoing celebration of the 3 Austrian wins on the Hahnenkamm. This mountain valley is ablaze with a cacophony of contemporary 'oom- pah' music and drunken cheers. The Lawler's raise a glass of cheer as we ready to return to a more sedate Switzerland tomorrow morning. Indeed, it has been "One Hell of A Ride"!
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