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This year’s ski fest will be remembered as a resounding success.
Snow. Huge amounts of snow. Was the forecast for the Hahnenkamm Weekend. “It will be difficult, but not impossible to carry the event out as planned” - one often hears these words, or something similar from official sources. The fact that the snow masses were handled so brilliantly is thanks, however, to the tireless efforts of countless helpers. All the hard hours of work and effort paid off - the 78th Hahnenkamm Races went as smooth as smooth can be. Simply perfect.

Snow checks on 5th January
“I have to congratulate the Hahnenkamm Team, everything has been prepared to the very highest standards and I can give them the green light”. With these words, FIS race director Hannes Trinkl confirmed the 78th edition of the Hahnenkamm Races. Chief of Race, Axel Naglich, expressed his satisfaction for the work completed by all the teams. Special thanks was reserved for the Bergbahn AG Cable Car Co. “The men have delivered a stellar performance”, Downhill Piste Chief, Herber Hauser, lauded all those involved.

Opening of the Race Week with the stars of tomorrow
Hahnenkamm Race Week was officially opened with a Parade of Nations. K.S.C. President, Michael Huber, President of Kitzbühel Tourism, Signe Reisch and Seppi Eberl officially welcomed participants representing their nations in the Junior Race. The international festive mood began on Monday in the Park of Legends, and carried on throughout the rest of the week.

Svindal’s Super-G hat trick
The official opening of the classic weekend then took place on Friday with the Super-G. Heavy snowfall during the previous day and night presented a huge challenge for the racers, teams, organizers and fans. Thanks to sensational working cooperation by all involved, it was possible to get the Streif ready for the race. A later start time and revised racecourse route - from the Mausefalle to Oberhausberg - turned out to be the perfect solution. The Super-G was a true spectacle that offered fair conditions to all athletes.
Victory was celebrated by an old acquaintance: Aksel Lund Svindal conjured up a fabulous run in the snowy conditions and triumphed for the third time on the Hahnenkamm. “Kitzbühel is pretty special, but it is even more special when you take part and win all over again. It is really great,” said the delighted Norwegian, who celebrated the perfect comeback after his injury in Kitzbühel two years ago. His compatriot, Kjetil Jansrud, landed in the runners-up position just behind him “Two moose on the Kitzbühel podium - that tastes good,” he commented dryly on the Norwegian double triumph. Last year’s winner, Mathias Mayer, whose spirited run gave the spectators much reason to cheer, completed the top 3. “I battled my way down. It was a challenging race, but everything went well,” said number three after the race. Hannes Reichelt missed out on a podium position by exactly one hundredth of a second.
Almost 15,000 fans, who were able to follow all the race action on video screens in the finish area, contributed to the impressive atmosphere - which continued into the evening at the award ceremony for the Super-G heroes.
The Super-G race report can be found under: https://hahnenkamm.com/news/norwegischer-doppelsieg-beim-super-g/

Thomas Dressen writes history
“I didn’t think it was possible for things to go even better than yesterday’s Super-G. But today they did,” explained Michael Huber, President of the Kitzbühel Ski Club, on the evening after the Streif Downhill. And how right he was: The Downhill of the 78th Hahnenkamm Races was everything an athlete’s heart desires - emotional, passionate, sensational. Centre stage of this spectacular Streif Downhill was taken by Thomas Dressen.
The 24-year-old racer, who has only achieved one World Cup podium positon thus far, delivered a sensational run with start number 19, for which he reaped deserved reward: The lad from Upper Bavaria skied the fastest time and was the surprise winner of the Downhill spectacle. “I could hardly believe it as I crossed the finish line. It’s just a really, really cool feeling,” commented a visibly moved Dressen after his triumph. His victory represents the end of a long dry spell for his homeland: 39 years after Sepp Ferstl won the Downhill in 1979, another German ski racer has finally triumphed again on the Streif. As runner-up, Beat Feuz was delighted with winning his fourth “Gams” trophy. “It was a fantastic day. I am delighted with my run,” said the Swiss athlete at the prize-giving ceremony. As in the day before, an Austrian landed in third place: winner of 2014, Hannes Reichelt was very pleased with his fifth podium finish in Kitzbühel. “On such a racecourse and at my age, it is a great performance,” was the Salzburg athlete’s assessment.
As had been the case all week, the Piste Team delivered one of the best performances. With “slip crews” on permanent call and perfect grooming of the Hausberg Mountain, the Downhill could be held under perfect piste conditions and along the complete route. Thanks for their efforts came in the form of 47,000 spectators alongside the Streif racecourse, a fantastic atmosphere in the finish area and a great competition.
Winner’s portrait of Thomas Dressen: https://hahnenkamm.com/en/news/portrait-of-dressen-the-downhill-winner-the-new-king-of-the-streif/

Norwegian festival continues - third podium positon for Austria
“All good things come in threes” - must have been what the weather gods were thinking when they sent snow again ahead of the third great Hahnenkamm competition of the weekend, the Slalom. Almost twenty centimetres of fresh snow fell overnight on the Hahnenkamm. It was therefore obvious that an enormous amount of work was going to be required to get the Ganslern slope race ready. Slip crews, snow shovellers and course groomers worked their socks off out on the slope as from 4 am. With great success: the Slalom could take place under wintry conditions, but without hitch.
Henrik Kristoffersen clinched victory for the second time since 2016. Fastest in the first run, the Norwegian retained his lead brilliantly in thick, driving snow conditions during the second run. Kristoffersen is delighted with his second golden Gams trophy: “I had a good feeling today and am of course very satisfied with my win,” said Kristoffersen after the race. “It is totally cool to race and win in Austria. I love Austria;” enthused the 23-year-old. After Svindal’s success in the Super-G, the Norwegian ski team could celebrate at second triumph at this year’s Hahnenkamm Races. It was also the third Norwegian podium finish this weekend. Only the Austrians could almost match this level of success: after the third places achieve by Mayr (Super-G) and Reichelt (Downhill), top favourite Marcel Hirscher finished second in the Slalom. ”I delivered the maximum performance I could today and am therefore satisfied. It’s great to take 80 points home with me from Kitzbühel.“ It was Hirscher's seventh podium finish in the Kitzbühel classics. “Like winning outright,” was how it felt for Daniel Yule to come third, his first ever podium finish. “That this has happened in Kitzbühel is incredible, it is unbelievable,” said the delighted technical specialist from Switzerland.

And with that, the 78th Hahnenkamm Races now officially belong to the history books. Bottom line: Three spectacular races, three great winners and a total of nine racers from four different nations on the podium ensured a fabulous atmosphere at the Streif, on the Ganslernhang and throughout Kitzbühel. Equally impressive as the athletes’ performance, were the efforts of all those involved in the background, who made these races possible in the first place. They defied the sometimes unfavourable weather conditions with their passion, ambition, willingness and cooperation, thus making a wonderful ski festival come true all over again in Kitzbühel.

Three disciplines - Euro 555,000 in prize money
Kitzbühel Ski Club (K.S.C.), Organizers of the Hahnenkamm Races, came up with an incredible Euro 555,000 in prize money for the 78th Hahnenkamm Races. Friday’s winner was awarded with the sum of Euro 55,500, while the Downhill and Slalom winners could look forward to receiving a winner’s purse of Euro 74,000 each. The top 30 of every race received prize money: “We want to use this prize money to honour the extraordinary achievements of those competing on the Streif and Ganslern”, said Chief of Race, Axel Naglich.

KitzCharityTrophy 2018 raises Euro 150,000
After the last Downhill racer crossed the finish line on Saturday, the day was long from over. Diverse celebrities took to the course at the Finish Area to compete in a charitable ski race. This year's "KitzCharityTrophy" amassed some Euro 150,000 for needy farming families in Tyrol and South Tyrol. Bernie Ecclestone was responsible for the race again this year in his position of line judge and race director. Many personalities from the most diverse backgrounds carved and weaved their way around the gates. Participants included, amongst others, ski legends such as Stephan Eberharter, Benni Raich and Didier Cuche, who all strapped their skis on to compete against the likes of actors Nina Proll and Tobias Moretti. Max Verstappen completed the race straight down on a sled, and was promptly disqualified by Bernie Ecclestone for breaking the race rules. The KitzCharityTrophy was finally won by Team Ecclestone, which consisted of Ecclestone's wife Fabiana, ex-ski racer Marco Büchel, and skiing legend Franz Klammer. Second place went to Team Charity Founders, with ex-Formula One driver Gerhard Berger, Helene Berger and Gerry Friedler, while third place went to Team Borealis, with Armin Assinger, Philippe Roodhooft and Markku Korvenranta.

A huge thank you to the fans
Piste workers, organizers, sponsors, or whatever they are called, all those involved with the Hahnenkamm Races. One group, however, often goes unmentioned: the fans! It is they who are ultimately responsible for the thrilling moments that make these races the greatest ski event in Austria. In fancy dress, waving flags, with giant hats, cheering, laughing, emotional - it is the fans that make the Hahnenkamm Races what they are. They deserve special thanks this year. Seldom have there been so few problems or complications. The races went as smooth as smooth can be, and for that we thank our fans. Chapeau!

We are now looking forward to the 79th Hahnenkamm races from 21 to 27 January 2019!