FIS Race Director praises racecourse and snow quality
Friday’s snow check on the Streif and Ganslern was held in glorious sunshine. "The slope looks very good, the snow quality is fantastic", said FIS Race Director Hannes Trinkl at the finish line after completing the snow check. With that, he gave the "green light" for the Hahnenkamm races.
HKR Chief Michael Huber thanked Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel for the excellent preparatory work, "The cable car company employees have done an excellent job all over again and presented superbly prepared racecourses to the Piste Team on 7th January". Cable Car CEO Josef Burger emphasised the work of his staff: "Our team gave everything they had and worked with meticulous care. I would like to quote Niki Lauda here - according to the slogan - we have nothing to give away. Every available minute was used.". 85 snow cannons and five piste machines were in permanent operation on the racecourses. "Everything is being done to provide optimum conditions!"
Christian Schroll, deputy slope manager on the Ganslernhang: "There is a slight change in the course route this year. We are in the middle of the work and need another five to six days with the snow groomers before we are done”. Herbert Hauser, slope manager on the Streif, is happy about the good snow coverage, “the GPS system in the slope machines is a great advantage. It allows us to work with pinpoint accuracy. We could not imagine preparing the slopes without our snow management system, which has been in place for around ten years." Hauser described the Streif as “calm.”
Tom Voithofer from the fence team was present: “The crucial phase begins for us next week. We are currently making good progress with the nets and safety barriers." Race director Mario Weinhandl discussed the programme: "In eight days we will have a telephone conference with Markus Waldner and Hannes Trinkl and make the final decision as to whether the first training session will take place on Tuesday or Wednesday. It would be nice if we could give the athletes a day off. The OC chief said in conclusion: "Final work is not only being done on the slopes, but also in the infrastructure area. TV towers are already in place, various container facilities and commentator booths will now follow, before the stadium structures themselves are installed."
"We are looking forward to the Race Week with confidence," said a delighted Trinkl. Everyone agreed with this statement and of course the wish that the weather will continue to play ball.
"The slope looks very good, the snow quality is fantastic", said FIS Race Director Hannes Trinkl at the finish line after completing the snow check. With that, he gave the "green light" for the Hahnenkamm races.
"We are looking forward to the Race Week with confidence," said a delighted Trinkl.
