Tomorrow’s Ski Stars on the Ganslern
Talented young skiers from nine nations will compete for the LONGINES Future Hahnenkamm Champions winner’s title, a world-class youth race on the Ganslern slope. Alongside Austria, teams from Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Liechtenstein and Switzerland will be on the start list. The race will be broadcast live via livestream.
Since 2001, the LONGINES Future Hahnenkamm Champions – known as the Juniors Race – has served as the opening act for the legendary Hahnenkamm race weekend. In this slalom on the prestigious Ganslern slope, young talents from nine nations go head-to-head – just days before the World Cup elite return to the very same slope to fight for points and prestige. The Juniors Race is held as a team event for girls and boys. The most promising youngsters aged 14 to 15 are selected.
Each team consists of three girls and three boys, and every athlete completes both slalom runs – even if they fail to finish the first run. In such cases, however, a penalty time is added. For the team result, the times of the best two girls and the best two boys are evaluated. The total prize money on offer is €20,000. Last year, Team Tirol claimed victory on the Ganslern.
This year, Team Tirol comprises Lea Tasser (Mayrhofen), Lorena Plankensteiner (Lienz), Anna Steixner (Mieders), Finn Neururer (Mutters), Ruiz Herzig (Gerlos) and Luis Stecher (Leins). Team Austria I features Paula Anderwald (Arnoldstein), Katharina Unterdechler (SC Dachstein), Lena Erharter (Thiersee), Julian Dohr (St. Veit–Klippitztörl), Luis Happ (Axams) and Maximilian Huber from the Kitzbühel Ski Club. Team Austria II consists of Lea Unger (Bischofshofen), Lena Gösweiner (Spital am Pyhrn), Celine Oberschneider (Zell am See), Linus Leitner (Schröcken), Samuel Thöni (Leins) and David Pacher (Alpbach).
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE JUNIORS RACE LIVE STREAM
The first run gets underway on Wednesday at 10.15 hrs, followed by the second at 1.30 hrs. Since the Juniors Race was first held in 2001, many winners and participants have gone on to make waves in the World Cup, as well as at the Olympic Games and World Championships. These include Anna Veith, Marcel Hirscher, Matthias Mayer, Beat Feuz, Adrian Pertl, Dominik Paris, Eva-Maria Brem, Max Franz, Chiara Mair, Ariane Rädler, Fritz Dopfer, Pepi Ferstl, Kathi Gallhuber, Fabio Gstrein, Raphael Haaser, Ilka Štuhec and many more.
Photo © K.S.C./Stefan Adelsberger
