The Monster of Streif

 by Indie Stone

Gruelling, ruthless and enervating, the Streif in Kitzbühel is celebrating its 84th anniversary of being the world’s most spectacular downhill skiing event. Organised by the Kitzbühel Ski Club at the beginning of its lifetime, the evolution of this race has transformed into what some would say is a legend in the world of sport. 

Putting skiers to the test through a legendary course, The Strief is the downhill odyssey from the Hahnenkamm Races weekend, where a series of downhill events occur every winter in Wengen, Switzerland. From the Audi FIS World Cup Super G, Slalom and other downhill skiing, the Strief’s epic course alternates every year, it must comply with two characteristics for its victims every year; 3,312 metres in length, and a maximum steepness of  40.4 degrees. In layman’s terms, it has to be stupidly steep and devilishly difficult: it’s not for the faint hearted.

As soon as the starting gun sounds, the first skier of this monster of a course accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h in less than three seconds, but at the steepest part, they can hurtle downwards of up to 120 km/h. In 2006, a crazy competitor called Michael Walchhofer claimed the Streif speed record with a descent of 153 km/h, a pace comparable to that of Tiger Woods’ golf swing. 

Annually gathering 90,000 visitors, with over 300 million television spectators, a KSC - team of around 1,500 people work hard to ensure everything is running fluidly on the race weekend. Through years of experience and tackling challenges through various weather conditions and natural scenarios, the KSC team construct the Streif using a basis of intuition, knowledge and experience - there is no manual for fabricating this beast.

From the outset, the Streif was judged to be extraordinary - competitors dispatch themselves into the “Startschuss”, the mouth of the monster, a great 1,665 metres above sea level. ‘There is no other start gate where such calmness prevails as on the Streif. It is a very special atmosphere’, says Organizing Committee Chairman, Michael Huber.

Following a 160 - metre long hurtle down the beast’s 51 percent gradient throat, the “Starthang”, racers will arrive at the “Mausefalle” in only 8 and a half seconds. Sending their corpses over the the longest jump of the course, skiers will soar 80 metres over the steepest section of the course, an 85 percent gradient part of the slope where acceleration of 110/120 km/h are mandatory.

Forced to endure centrifugal forces of 3.1 g, competitors will need to hang onto their skin before entering the “Steilhang”, a slope considered to be the World Cup’s most technically challenging. Edges like knives and timings like a watch are required for an optimum completion of this demanding section.

Athletes must sustain as much speed as possible to enter the “Brückenschuss” and “Gschöss” regions. “This is where you need to be able to glide”, reports a previous competitor. “Fast skis and a good physical condition are prerequisite”.

Exactly at the belly of the creature, the skiers must approach the “Seidlalmsprung” jump in a deep squat position without being able to see what comes next, as to not to be consumed by the Streif. Mistakes are not permitted in the air if survival for the next turn is desired.

A 90 degree turn, racers will find themselves being sent around the “Oberhausberg”, an energy consuming “S”, where those that hesitate are devoured, and those that jump over the “Hausbergkante” are awarded with a (near) survival.

Approaching the final jump, those who are left of the course sink into their deep squat position and set their eyes upon the “Zielsprung”, a sight that will finally end their near-death experiences and burning leg pain. With a straight approach and speeds of up to 150 km/h, the compression ahead of the finish line propels these extraordinary athletes towards the finishing line at break neck paces. 

A volcanic eruption of cheer, adrenaline and relief, the spectators are enraptured when their favourite competitors come shooting past their spot in the crown. The finish line is well in sight, and with a quick glance at the clock, it must be noted that there is a narrow margin between dismay and delight.

But all that live through the brutal consumption of the Streif are victors.