Sculpture of the Streif at Legends Park
A new stainless-steel sculpture has been unveiled at Kitzbühel Legends Park, not far from the Finish Stadium. It depicts the Streif racecourse on an (approximate) scale of 1:300, mounted on eleven columns that symbolise key points along the course. The collaborative project, under the direction of Helena Huber, is dedicated to all those who invest heart and soul, year after year, into helping prepare for the Hahnenkamm Races.
Not only does the Streif present challenges – a total of eleven in fact – but also a replica of the racecourse, which has been constructed to an (approximate) scale of 1:300. During formal unveiling of the sculpture on Thursday evening at Legends Park, the snow-white drape covering it became entangled in the Mausfalle. section. After a short delay, however, it was finally revealed. The prestigious downhill racecourse in miniature form. Its creation is a collaborative effort under the direction of Helena Huber, with support from Siegi Monitzer und Max Kössler. The original concept for the model was conceived by the art historian from Kitzbühel while still at school. She created the first small version out of modelling clay and wooden sticks.
It was always a dream of legendary KSC official, Franz Pfurtscheller (1936 – 2021) to create a miniature model of the Streif, albeit on a somewhat larger scale. The idea, however, needed time to evolve: “The challenge was to depict the route in an attractive, yet three-dimensional form. Not too big, but not too small either,“ explains Helena Huber. Five years ago, the project gradually gained momentum and Siegi Monitzer from the Mountain Blacksmiths, “Kitzbüheler Bergschmiede,” was commissioned with its creation: ”The 200-hour project was great fun. My entire team helps out with building and preparing for the Hahnenkamm Races in January, so they know all the turns and gradients of the Streif precisely,“ says the wrought-iron specialist. The stainless-steel Streif weighs 70 kilos without the eleven pillars, which represent the eleven key sections of the race.
The miniature skier on the model was created by Max Kössler from Bad Hofgastein: ”It’s a little nod to the original statue that stands in front of the Hahnenkammbahn cable car. It gives the impression of him first taking the cable car up the mountain and then skiing back down the Streif,“ says Helene Huber, describing the metallic sportsman. Kitzbühel‘s Mayor, Klaus Winkler, is also impressed: ”Legends Park is truly worthy of its name and I would like to thank the Ski Club for regularly populating it with such characters,“ said the Mayor, alluding to the other sculptures and memorial plaques.
The model of the Streif was designed, forged and installed on the occasion of the 85th Hahnenkamm Races. The artwork is, “An appreciation of the natural conditions of the mountain, combined with human labour and creative willpower to transform the course into an icon of Alpine racing every year,” as stated on the adjacent plaque. “It is dedicated to all those who invest heart and soul, year after year, into helping prepare for the Hahnenkamm Race, as well as to all other dedicated idealists at all Kitzbühel's winter sports venues – from Ganslernhang to the ski jump,” adds Helena Huber.
Photo © K.S.C./alpinguin
