{"id":4846,"date":"2024-01-23T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snowtrex.co.uk\/magazine\/?p=4846"},"modified":"2025-10-30T10:47:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T09:47:00","slug":"famous-world-cup-slopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snowtrex.co.uk\/magazine\/ski-areas\/famous-world-cup-slopes\/","title":{"rendered":"Following in the Footsteps of the Pros: Famous and Infamous World Cup pistes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year in autumn, the elite of alpine skiing kick off the World Cup season. The slopes that the pros race down are considered a true \u201ctest of courage\u201d for any ambitious amateur winter sports enthusiast. SnowTrex<\/a> has compiled the most legendary World Cup runs that are also open to non-professionals. Who dares to conquer one of these slopes?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\n \"The<\/a>
\u00a9 PHOTOMDP\/Shutterstock<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
The world\u2019s most challenging slopes were the \u201chome turf\u201d of record overall World Cup winner Marcel Hirscher during his active career.<\/div>\n <\/div > \n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n
\n Index\n <\/div>\n
\n An Overview of Famous World Cup Pistes<\/span><\/a>Lauberhorn in Wengen, Switzerland \u2013 Downhill with the Highest Average Speed<\/span><\/a>Saslong in Val Gardena, Italy \u2013 Daring Jumps<\/span><\/a>Streif in Kitzb\u00fchel, Austria \u2013 Up to 85% Gradient<\/span><\/a>Planai in Schladming, Austria \u2013 The “Nightrace”<\/span><\/a>Kandahar in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany \u2013 The Steepest World Cup Course<\/span><\/a>Chuenisb\u00e4rgli in Adelboden, Switzerland \u2013 The Toughest Giant Slalom in the World?<\/span><\/a>Olympic Downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy \u2013 Spectacular Races in the Dolomites<\/span><\/a>Pista Stelvio in Bormio, Italy \u2013 Technical and Demanding<\/span><\/a>Gran Risa in Alta Badia, Italy \u2013 Icy Descent Through the Pine Forest<\/span><\/a>Oreiller-Killy in Val d\u2019Is\u00e8re, France \u2013 A True Classic<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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An Overview of Famous World Cup Pistes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Piste<\/strong><\/th>Resort<\/strong><\/th>Country<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Lauberhorn<\/td>Wengen<\/a><\/td>Switzerland<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saslong<\/td>Val Gardena<\/a><\/td>Italy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Streif<\/td>Kitzb\u00fchel<\/a><\/td>Austria<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Planai<\/td>Schladming<\/a><\/td>Austria<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kandahar<\/td>Garmisch-Partenkirchen<\/a><\/td>Germany<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chuenisb\u00e4rgli<\/td>Adelboden<\/a><\/td>Switzerland<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Olympia-Abfahrt<\/td>Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo<\/a><\/td>Italy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pista Stelvio<\/td>Bormio<\/a><\/td>Italy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gran Risa<\/td>Alta Badia<\/a><\/td>Italy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oreiller-Killy<\/td>Val d\u2019Is\u00e8re<\/a><\/td>France<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Lauberhorn in Wengen, Switzerland \u2013 Downhill with the Highest Average Speed<\/h2>\n

The Lauberhorn course in the World Cup venue of Wengen<\/a> is the longest World Cup downhill in the world, measuring nearly 4.5 km. It is also known for the highest average speeds reached during a World Cup race. However, with a maximum gradient of 42 percent, it\u2019s not as steep as some other courses. A signature feature of this piste, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Eiger North Face, is the legendary Hundschopf jump, where racers plunge 15 meters between two rock walls. Other notorious sections include the Minschkante, the Canadian Corner, and the Ziel-S, which demands everything from the racers right at the end of the course.<\/p>\n

Saslong in Val Gardena, Italy \u2013 Daring Jumps<\/h2>\n

The World Cup course beneath the Langkofel massif is infamous for its \u201cCamel Humps\u201d \u2013 one of the most iconic sections of the entire World Cup circuit. Roughly midway through the course, this combination of three bumps was originally dubbed the \u201cKangaroo Jump.\u201d The second and third humps are particularly difficult to navigate. After the Camel Humps, the ruts of the Ciaslat meadow put racers\u2019 thigh muscles to the test. Even after crossing the finish line, focus is still required: the run-out area is especially narrow. In earlier years, underdogs with high start numbers had an advantage on the Saslong \u2013 in the afternoon, the sun would come out from behind the Langkofel and make the track faster. However, adjusted start times have now solved that issue.<\/p>\n

Streif in Kitzb\u00fchel, Austria \u2013 Up to 85% Gradient<\/h2>\n

Arguably one of the world\u2019s most famous courses \u2013 not least because of the celebrity turnout each year for the Hahnenkamm races in Kitzb\u00fchel<\/a> \u2013 the Streif is also one of the most feared and challenging downhills in the world. With gradients of up to 85%, jumps up to 80 meters, and speeds reaching up to 140 km\/h, the Hahnenkamm downhill is considered one of the toughest on the planet. The 3,312 m-long Streif features all the elements of a classic downhill: sharp terrain edges, steep slopes, sidehill sections, gliding zones, tight curves, spectacular undulations, and even short uphill segments. Key sections include the \u201cMausefalle\u201d (with an 85% gradient), the Steilhang, and the \u201cHausbergkante.\u201d Recreational skiers can bypass these extreme zones \u2013 they\u2019re marked as \u201cextreme ski routes\u201d in normal ski operations. The red \u201cStreif family run\u201d leads around them, offering everyone a chance to experience a taste of World Cup atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"In<\/a>
\u00a9 bofotolux\/Shutterstock<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
In the final slope of the legendary Hahnenkamm race in Kitzb\u00fchel, athletes reach the highest speeds.<\/div>\n <\/div > \n

Planai in Schladming, Austria \u2013 The “Nightrace”<\/h2>\n

As a long-standing World Cup venue, Schladming\u2019s home mountain, the Planai, has earned a legendary reputation. Its annual highlight is the “Nightrace” \u2013 a nighttime slalom that attracts the largest crowd of the entire World Cup circuit. Up to 60,000 spectators turn the finish area into a sea of colour and light. After hosting its last World Cup race in 1990, Schladming<\/a> made its comeback on the race calendar in 1997. Since 2001, the Nightrace has taken place every year on the Tuesday following the Hahnenkamm races. Sections of the course, such as the \u201cHolzacker\u201d and the \u201cItalienerloch,\u201d live up to their evocative names.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"The<\/a>
\u00a9 Dietmar Rauscher\/Shutterstock<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
The famous finish of the Planai race.<\/div>\n <\/div > \n

Kandahar in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany \u2013 The Steepest World Cup Course<\/h2>\n

The legendary Kandahar slope has been part of the Ski World Cup since 2009 and holds the title of the steepest course on the circuit. With a jaw-dropping gradient of up to 92 percent, racers face their toughest challenge just before the finish \u2013 no wonder this section is called the “free fall.” But the rest of the course is no walk in the park either: the Tr\u00f6glhang features a 63 percent gradient, allowing skiers to accelerate up to 140 km\/h shortly after the start. The run continues through the Olympiakurve, the Panoramasprung \u2013 where jumps of up to 60 meters are routine \u2013 and the icy Eishang. Not for the faint of heart \u2013 or thighs!<\/p>\n

Chuenisb\u00e4rgli in Adelboden, Switzerland \u2013 The Toughest Giant Slalom in the World?<\/h2>\n

The giant slalom course on the Chuenisb\u00e4rgli above Adelboden<\/a> is considered one of the toughest in the world \u2013 and a true classic. Alongside Kitzb\u00fchel and Wengen, Adelboden is one of only three venues to have featured on the World Cup calendar every year since its inception in 1967. Each year, around 40,000 fans flock to the town of just 3,500 residents. Both the start and finish slopes are particularly steep, and the course has a noticeable side slope throughout. Adelboden\u2019s local mountain offers several course variations \u2013 for World Cup races, as well as European Cup and other FIS events.<\/p>\n

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Die erfolgreichen Tage am Chuenisb\u00e4rgli | Adelboden 2021<\/div><\/div>
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