 Poster: A snowHead
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Snow may be in short supply across the Alps, but this weekend's Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbuhel - biggest crowd-puller on the World Cup circuit - is ON. The racers are there - the first of three training runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday has already taken place (results on SkiRacing.com) - and the atmosphere will be electric - as always!
Photo: Michael Walchofer of Austria leads the downhill standings ...
The Austrians go wild for this annual event - the biggest in their sports calendar - with 70,000 to 100,000 spectators expected to pack the time-honoured ski resort. Mixed weather is forecast for this week, so there could be problems, upsets and challenges ahead...but that's nothing new for the Hahnenkamm!
For those in the UK, there will be no live terrestrial broadcast of the race, it seems. Beeb One is dedicated to four legs on the flat on Saturday afternoon (skiers prefer two galloping human legs on a precipitous sheet of ice).
Satellite TV details to come (can anyone post information below, please?). Channel 4 are scheduling coverage on Sunday from 7.30am - full details on ifyouski.com - and BBC Ski Sunday is on BBC2 at 4.45pm the same day.
We'll keep you updated with press previews. Check out www.snowracers.net for reports and links to come.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 19-01-05 16:40; edited 5 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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British Eurosport who cover most of the races aren't licenced to show the Hahnenkamm. I seem to recall from a few years ago, that Austrian races are subject to a separate TV licence, hence the fact that ski sunday can show the race.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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... speaking of which, Eurosport.com have a useful article setting the scene for the Hahnenkamm: click here.
To get into the groove for the big day, Graham Bell's manic 'racer's eye' video of the Streif DH course - filmed for the BBC last winter - is a must: click here for the video - and music!
The official website for the Hahnenkamm has lots of interesting content and background information.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The third practice run is scheduled for today Thursday. PG has reports on the training runs to date: snowRacers.net
And there will be no schnapps at the Hahnenkamm. Big clampdown on any alcohol sales, with anything over 6% taken off the shelves. This is what the mayor of Kitzbuhel, Dr Klaus Winkler, had to say:
| Quote: |
| “We can do without benders this year“ |
More on that story from Hahnenkamm.com
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Forecasts remain optimistic for Saturday's downhill, but today's (Friday's) super G has been cancelled, due to poor weather conditions. Training on Thursday's practice run was cancelled after many racers crashed out, Thomas Graggaber of Austria was seriously hurt when hitting the nets, and heavy rain fell.
The drama of the Hahnenkamm continues! Reports on www.snowracers.net ... www.skiracing.com ... www.hahnenkamm.com
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Fortunately the slalom was able to take place today - but not much joy for the British interest, Alain Baxter, I'm afraid. What with Chemmy's bunions, it seems hopes rest with our speed merchant Finlay Mickel, this season... not much time left for Alain to find his form now.
See report on snowRacers ...
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Has anyone been To Kitzbuhel for the race?
What was the experience like?
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My brother arrived there Saturday afternoon, but I do believe he's been a little distracted by the (talk about lucky) off-piste conditions ...
... one thing I found very notable in watching the slalom (the only race salvaged so far) on the BBC yesterday was Bode Miller's tendency to drag his right pole and arm. Could be wrong (and it's easy to criticise from the couch!) but maybe that's why he had such a struggle.
Here's a report on the slalom from SkiRacing.com.
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