On Thursday morning, the SKIDS team and the second placed association of the parallel team event headed to Kitzbühel for the World Cup race on the Streif – a great adventure lay ahead. Five children and two coaches from the Gallio Ski Club and the GAME Team Academy took part.
There was a special highlight right at the beginning: when we parked in Kitzbühel, we met the top athletes Marco Odermatt, Beat Feuz and Justin Murisier. They were spotted by the kids in civilian clothes and were happy to sign autographs, and we were given ski passes by the Hahnenkamm Race Organizing Committee to explore the Streif on our skis. We took the Hahnenkamm cable car to the top and were already amazed in the gondola – the names of the former winners were listed, a real goosebump moment.
Once at the top, we immediately hit the slopes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t perfect, but that didn’t dampen our enthusiasm. After lunch, we were allowed to take a look inside the start house for the downhill. The Red Bull area was explained to us there, where the athletes warm up and spend time before the race. We were also able to enter the start house and look out from there towards the mousetrap – what a sight and an impressive moment. It was only here that we really realized what courage the athletes have to muster to throw themselves out of this start house.
We then headed down the Streif B to the Super-G start. After this exhausting and interesting day of skiing, we went back to the hotel to end the day in peace.
On Friday morning, we started skiing again before heading back to the start house – but this time not inside, but right next to the piste, where we watched the Super-G up close. We were amazed as the athletes sped past us at an incredible speed – a fascination not only for the children, but also for the coaches. Afterwards, we got some autographs from the athletes and took some photos.
There was a huge crowd in the finish area. There were people everywhere, soaking up the atmosphere of the Hahnenkamm Race. So many impressions at once – it was simply overwhelming.
