Hansi Hinterseer is this Year’s Hahnenkamm Legend
50 years after his acclaimed home victory on the Ganslern Slope and shortly before his milestone birthday, Hansi Hinterseer was named Hahnenkamm Legend of the Year. To the delight of his fans, the people’s darling has produced a new album and a new documentary.
2024 is a special year - for both Hansi Hinterseer, the Hahnenkamm Races and Kitzbühel Ski Club (KSC). It was 27th January 1974, when the then 19-year-old won the prestigious Slalom on the Ganslern Slope. At the time, nobody believed this would be the last victory by a Kitzbühel Ski Club athlete in the "home races". It has been 50 years since the Kitzbühel-born athlete and the Ski Club celebrated this great moment in history. Just a few days after his triumph on the Ganslern, the blonde people’s darling had yet more reason to celebrate after scooping silver in the Giant Slalom at the World Championships in St. Moritz. During his World Cup career, which he ended at the age of 24, Hansi Hinterseer achieved a total of six victories and won the crystal globe in the 1973 Giant Slalom. He also made headlines, however, after his switch to the US Pro Ski Tour: Hansi Hinterseer was crowned world champion in 1982 and 1983 – although that was in the Downhill discipline.
There is more than enough reason, therefore, to award Hansi Hinterseer with the Hahnenkamm Legend of the Year title at the 84th Hahnenkamm Races. Something that pleases Michael Huber, Club President and Organising Committee Chairman, greatly: "Kitzbühel Ski Club is very proud to have Hansi Hinterseer among its ranks. His personality mirrors the classic attributes of the Club: determined and successful, but down-to-earth and natural at the same time. There can only be one Hahnenkamm legend for 2024, and that's Hansi!"
As Hahnenkamm Legend of the Year, Hansi Hinterseer now joins the ranks of award-winning ski stars such as Jean-Claude Killy, Karl Schranz, Andi Wenzel, Christian Neureuther, Patrick Russel, Sepp Ferstl, Dumeng Giovanoli, Jean-Noel Augert and Roland Collombin, as well as Anderl Molterer, who passed away only last October.
It will be an endless round of celebrations over the coming days and weeks for the Kitzbühel native. Hansi Hinterseer is on the cusp of releasing his new album "Schön, dass es dich gibt," while looking forward to the premiere of a new documentary "Willkommen in meinem Leben". The final party will probably follow on 2nd February, when the ski icon celebrates his 70th birthday.
Photo © Moonlake Entertainment/Max Christ
