The slalom crowd is special
All eyes may be on the Streif, but one of the most fascinating Slaloms in the World Cup is just around the corner. It’s taking place on Sunday on the Ganslern slope. Shortly before the showdown, Chief of Piste Stefan Lindner gives us a little insight into his current mood.
Tickets for the Downhill sold out Tuesday morning and enquiries continue. Attending the Super-G and/or Slalom instead is little consolation for hardcore downhill fans, but Stefan Lindner is relaxed about the fact that both the media and the majority of fans (at least until Sunday morning) always seem to be focussing on the Streif: ‘We don't suffer from an inferiority complex. We are the Streif's little brother. And if you ask around in the slalom scene, the Ganslern is a really big brother,’ says the chief of piste of the Ganslern slope.
The Slalom has just as much tradition and importance for its contenders as the Streif for the speed specialists, and millions of people in Austria and Germany will be watching the race on TV or streaming it on Sunday: ‘And they’ll even be tuning in twice, because there are two runs,’ says Stefan Lindner with a smile. The fans who come to the stadium are also loyal, with between 20,000 and 25,000 spectators attending every year. The audience structure is also different to that of the Downhill: ‘The Slalom attracts a sportier crowd, more families and more locals,’ Stefan Lindner has observed over the last 20 years. That's how long he's been working in the Piste Team on the Ganslern, which he has been in charge of for 10.
Stefan Lindner has already had one big day this week: the Juniors Race on Wednesday (more here): ‘It's always very emotional because it's about fostering young talent. The athletes are at a point in their lives when they must decide whether or not to enter the realms of professional sport. That's why it's cool to be able to offer young people a race like this: as a motivational boost, as their first contact with Kitzbühel, with peers from seven nations and in front of lots of parents, relatives and friends.’
Stefan Lindner heads a team of 40 at Ganslern, which has been in excellent condition since December: ‘This is only possible because we have a great squad led by Christian Schroll and Michael Edenhauser,’ says the Oberndorf native, who is kept very busy. In addition to his farming business, he is also responsible for a dairy co-operative with 8,000 dairy farmers as Chairman of Berglandmilch. And where does the Slalom boss watch the Downhill? ‘From the Slalom grandstands, of course, there’s no doubt about it.’
The only official webshop for Hahnenkamm tickets is here.
Photo © K.S.C./alpinguin, Stefan Adelsberger
