Winter Greetings from the Streif and Ganslern
November’s chilly spell has been a real gift for preparations ahead of the 86th Hahnenkamm Races in January. Snow cover on the Streif is already 80 centimetres deep. Tickets are available exclusively via the web shop.
Frequent snowfall — and above all those deep November temperatures — have made work on the Streif and Ganslern racecourses considerably easier. The Bergbahn Kitzbühel cable car company was able to implement snowmaking operations for days on end. Alongside the biting cold, the cooling tower installed at Seidlalmsee in 2024, in partnership with the cable car operator, is already proving its worth. Together with the increased pumping capacity introduced last year, it allows the team to cover the Streif in artificial snow twice as quickly as before. There’s no need to increase the snow cannon output; fed with colder water, they work far more efficiently. The quality of the snow has improved noticeably, too. Thanks to the crisp nights, the snowpack on the Streif has already reached some 80 centimetres in depth — and seasoned crew members reckon that, weather permitting, this solid base should hold in the weeks to come.
Over the past few days, preparatory work has begun on the start slope, the Alte Schneise section, and the traverse below the Hausbergkante. The A‑nets along the course were installed in autumn, and the ORF camera towers are already in situ. The Ganslern slope, too, is slowly taking on its World Cup form, with huge mounds of snow waiting to be evenly distributed by the grooming machines.
Advance sales for the three race days have been very encouraging thus far. All ticket categories are still available, except for those for the special zone and grandstand on Saturday, 24th January — Downhill day. The Super-G takes place on Friday, 23rd January, and the slalom on 26th January. Tickets are sold exclusively via the web shop. There will be no on-site ticket sales! Grandstand and special zone tickets are available exclusively via the ticket office at ticket@hahnenkamm.com, and group tickets from group@hahnenkamm.com.
Children born in 2008 or later do not require a ticket for the races; they simply need to show photo ID. Entry is free for everyone on both Downhill training days and for the Juniors Race on the Ganslernhang on Wednesday, 21st January.
Photo © K.S.C./alpinguin
