Historic finish banner returns home

Not every youthful prank ends with an official handover at the Race Office. But this one did. After some 45 years, a stolen Hahnenkamm Race finish banner has found its way back from Switzerland to Kitzbühel – complete with a confession, a poem and a forgiving smile.

Kitzbühel Ski Club received an email from Urs Becker on 27 November 2025. Writing from Switzerland, Becker explained: “I heard on the grapevine that around 45 years ago, a group of men from our region (Sargans and Grabs), who are now of advanced age, indulged in a nocturnal prank. In my view, however – despite being under the influence of alcohol – this was more than just a prank: during their nocturnal escapade, they stole the brightly coloured finish banner!!”

Urs Becker himself had no hand in the deed, but he has a strong sense of justice – and, above all, a good sense of humour. Before retiring, he worked as a municipal clerk in Sargans, where he eventually discovered the corpus delicti in an attic. He decided it was time to return the bright red flag to its rightful owners during his visit to the Hahnenkamm Races. On Friday morning, the banner finally arrived home, welcomed with a warm and friendly handover at the Race Office. Becker was accompanied by his friends Pius and Markus. None of the original rascals dared to return to the scene of the crime – they continue to hunker down in Switzerland. Be that as it may, KSC honorary member and council of elders representative Wilfried Leitzinger accepted not only the long-missing banner but also a poem composed by Urs:

What happened some forty-five years ago,
One foggy night with falling snow,
Was not a prank, though it might appear,
Nor something that grew on our Alpine rear.

Four men from Sargans, Grabs and around,
Well-oiled with drink and Swiss pride unbound,
Late at night had a reckless idea:
“We’ll nick the finish banner – a cracking souvenir!”

For years it lay in an attic alone,
Gathering dust, its glory overthrown,
When it could have stood, admired and seen,
A lucky charm by the finish scene.

Or waved once more at a retro race,
Or slept in the archive, safe in its place.
When news of this lost treasure came,
My sense of justice burst into flame.

This splendid item must go back home,
An honourable task, we hope you’ll condone.
As ski club members, we felt it right
To return what vanished one drunken night.

We apologise too for the St Gallen rogue
Who sparked the plan with a mischievous vogue.
The culprits, now all seventy-five plus,
Regret their folly and make no fuss.

They’re glad it’s returned, their conscience clear,
And sleep more soundly year by year.
So here we hand back the pilfered prize,
In hope that Swiss guests behave more wise.

We’ll enjoy Kitzbühel, whoever may win,
Whoever stands smiling up on the podium.
A festival uniting nations with ease,
With sport, respect and a gentle breeze.

Top-class performances, joy and acclaim,
Applause for athletes at the height of their game.
Good cheer and friendship are firmly in play –
With thanks and warm wishes, in every way.

Wilfried Leitzinger described the episode as truly unique: “Nothing like this has ever happened in the long history of Kitzbühel Ski Club. We’re delighted to have our finish banner back where it belongs and we wish the former pranksters many more happy years on the ski slopes.”

Photo © K.S.C.