reaction of FIS
Even if the safety measures for athletes in alpine ski racing have improved greatly, especially after the death of Gernot Reinstadler in Wengen in 1991 and of Ulrike Maier in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1994 – the World Ski Association was always the first to react FIS after these bad accidents. For example, the committed FIS the organizers of World Cup races to extensive protective measures such as multiple plastic safety fences and large inflatable air cushions at sensitive points on the race slopes.
Change of route for more safety
In recent months, the Kitzbühel organizers, together with the FIS reacted to the events of 2021 and installed a route change on the Streif, which should minimize the driving speed before the target shot. After the “local mountain” at the entrance to the steep, laterally sloping “Traverse”, the athletes now have to cover a larger radius and thus a longer distance in order to lose speed. For the new route, a mound of earth in the compression after the Hausbergkanten jump was also removed, as slope manager Herbert Hauser explained: “The course change is intended to reduce the speeds at which the downhillers reach the finish jump so that they can stand this last jump without any problems.” This is also confirmed when asked FIS– Media Officer Tim Cetinich.
Discussion about target jump
The President of the Kitzbühel Organizing Committee, Michael Huber, commented on the discussion about the target jump that, according to calculations, simply flattening out this jump would not have the desired effect. Then the athletes would even at 160 km/h rush to the finish, says Huber.
Two-time world champion and current Lauberhorn winner Vincent Kriechmayr from Austria said: “If the reduction in speed means fewer catastrophic falls in the finish jump, then those responsible have made the right decision.“In the meantime, the three-time Streif downhill winner Dominik Paris from Italy was skeptical after his training run: “In the target jump area we are again at 143 km/h, so only slightly less than last year. I don’t think the project was entirely successful.“
Organizers praise themselves for record prize money
The Kitzbühel organizers can boast that the prize money paid out for the three races (two downhills and one slalom) is a record one million euros. For the first time, Austrian television wants one of the FIS use an approved camera drone, which the athletes can use from the Lerchenschuss over the Seidlalm and the local mountain to the traverse with up to more than 100 km/h should pursue. The spectacle remains. The downhill skier Kryenbühl, who has recovered from his injuries, is also back in the current races. The high price and the risk of possibly losing one’s own health continue to be borne solely by the athletes on the Streif.
Status: 01/20/2022, 16:49