It is amazing and inspiring that both Wengen and Kitzbuhel still challenge the best skiers in the world after so many decades. The mountains will always demand and deserve respect.
I'm 72 and have skied since 4th grade (9yrs old). This was back before non-releasing ski bindings. The skiis were all wood and much longer per one's height, skied in galoshes (slide-on over one's shoes rubber boots with zippers or buckles), bamboo ski poles. Very few wore actual ski parkas, rope tows consisted of very thin clothesline type ropes that you held on with just generic leather palmed gloves. Primitive! Eventually would come release bindings, ski boots and thicker ropes. In 9th grade I begged for "metal" skiis, still no "buckled" boots. The bigger hills installed T-bar lifts and some, chair lifts. These brought new "technical" challenges of getting on and off. Ski parkas and ski pants showed up...morphing into "stretch" pants. Ski magazines abound (how a lot of us taught ourselves how to ski the latest techniques. I devoured them. I'm born and raised in Wisconsin, so the ski environment was modest and somewhat limited. But that was was all we had. Even high-school, it was a rather elitist sport that only few were able to access. I was a decent skier and I knew no one who raced. But I was ADDICTED! Our whole family (me and two sisters) skied (after a fashion). My father was from out east and my mother from Duluth. So they were used to snow growing up, but not accomplished in any sense. I'm mansged to ski some out west during college and after and skied a lot locally (yo-yo skiing up/down). I taught my wife and two children how to ski (reluctantly on their part at first). They developed into good "social skiers" and my son was varsity on his high-school ski team and skied the Rockies with his cousin, aunt and uncle Brother-in-law born and raised in Boulder. He and my sister still ski out there at age 70 and 71. Enjoy viewing ski racing etc. Thanks for the download.
Those were the days. I still have marks on my head from getting egg-beater'd with my skiis in a tumble. For young viewers, this was in the days you tied your skiis to your ankles so you didn't lose them.
I led the same skiing life as you !! Started skiing 8 years old (1964) on a 250 foot vert hill in Mansfield Ohio called Snow Trails. Grew up skiing with the owners son !! We ruled !! Ski patrol hated us and more than once we ended up in the owners office ( my friends Father) and were banished from skiing for a week !! USSA Central Division Region 4 ski racing. Raced against Cindy Nelson (US Ski Team) Alan Kildow (Lindsey Vonns dad) got my ass kicked. Skied Minnesota top to bottom Those Buck Hill kids were the tops !! After 55 years of wear and tear, ankles knees hips 3 lower discs gone I had to give it up !! Addicted !! I was and now my passion and my purpose have been taken from me. Memories and no regrets! Do it all over again in a heart beat !!
Respekt an das Schweizer Militär, ohne Sie währe so ein Rennen nicht möglich! Respect for the Swiss Army, without them its not possible to have a race like this!
I worked a winter in Bern just before retireing. Skiing every weekend when the weather allowed. I was in Wengen, doing the Lauberhorn more than 10 times before I could break 9 minutes, no bones broken though. It is a great run but a challenge for a 64 year old beer belly. Switzerland in the winter is so great, given that you can afford it. Go try it yourself, you will not regret it.
@@humanbeing2420 A number of slow turns to get speed, breathing and thigh under control but no stopping. I had the opportunity to visit Wengen again last winter and did the full run again, great as ever. This time with another minute and a half on the clock though. Not bad when you are at the mature age of 72. Of course the run is affected quite a bit by the conditions of the day. As wonderful as a perfect day is with great snow and sunshine, as harrowing it can be on the mountain in high winds, fog and ice. Do I detect a little bit of tounge in cheek by the question? Well, to be fully open I do the run on one ski as I lost the lower part of one leg many years ago. That adds a bit to the challenge, but not much. I doubt that I could cut much time off the clock by adding another ski.
Ever since I've been into downhill, this is my favorite course. A lot of my ski friends have heard of " The Strief" but when I bring up " Lauberhorn" or " Wengen", I get blank stares.
Wow, absolutely incredible and eye-opening video. I've never heard about a Dh run in any sport being so taxing, fascinating. Even the Megavalanche of Mtb at Alpe D'Huez, which combines harsh terrain, major traffic, grade and altitude can be defeated in ~1 hr by capable riders with no major failures of the bike. Lauberhorn however appears to be 2.5mins of the most intense downhill the world has to offer, cheers for the video
A good analysis of Lauberhorn downhill course, the mother of all downhill courses. To me the race Saturday in January is the most important day in winter. A sport challenge beyond compare.
@@xCLiCH3E I am always disapointed when they run the shortened course like this year. Wthout the full length of meters and seconds the drivers do not experience the same amount of exhaustion which is a characteristic attribute of the full course.
One of my top 3 sporting contests, Le Mans 24hrs and the America's Cup being the other 2. Skied over the Hundschopf one year in March a very gnarly mogul field by then and under the railway bridge. It's not obvious during the race, but there is a compression under the bridge, so I fell. A couple of years later I was there for the race. Happy times.
the most important thing to remember is that in those clips it all looks kinda easy, but if you were at the hundschopf personally or at the old entrance to the finish, it looks fucking different. lets face it, 85% of skiers dont even go down there because its so steep. and in those videos it looks like almost flat :D
R.I.P., Bill Johnson, first American to win the Lauberhorn downhill in 1984. He then went on to win the final 3 downhills of the season. Olympic gold at the Olympics in Sarajevo, and victories at Aspen Colorado & Whistler, B.C. Canada. Paving the way to victory for other great American downhillers.
STANDING ON A DOWNHILL COURSE IN MAMMOTH MTN CALIF: HAIRJUMP,WHEN THE COMPETITORS CREASTED THE RIDGE AT 80 MPH YOU COULD HEAR THE WIND AS IT HIT THEIR BODIES,MAKING A TWUUT SOUND,LIKE WHEN A BULLET PASSES BY YOUR HEAD.. THE COURAGE IT TAKES TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO SKI AT THAT SPEED IS INSPIRING.
That is what I always thought, but long-time race director Viktor Gertsch, when I interviewed him about the race for a piece in the Financial Times, assured me it was a local word meaning dog's nose. He might, though, have been taking the mickey out of a naive foreigner who knew nothing about skiing.
When they talk about your legs burning, then mean the thighs and yes they burn with lactic acid, so to go down such a long course you'd have to be a great skier in top shape, otherwise you'd collapse short of the finish line.
This is a great video. It would be nice if you told us who the skiers were in the old footage. Assume the Canadian is Ken Read and the Austrian is Franz Klammer but there's no way of knowing.
Would've been good to know who those two dudes were giving their thoughts on the course. Additionally, would've been good to have some footage a little more up to date.
It not only can destroy careers, it can kill you! Gernot Reinstadler died there at the age of 20. He crashed into a net and was nearly torn into 2 halfs. The snow turned red and he did not survive this crash
It's seriously demanding, but there are plenty of other sports that are just as demanding and over a similar or even a much longer period of time. Most of them, though are not nearly as dangerous.
To show that the course hasn't changed at all over that time. Most downhills change over time or are very dependent on the course setter. The classics like Wengen and Kitzbuhel are the same every year with very minor tweaks
"There is perhaps no better test of an athlete in any sport" - this documentary officially got americanized ;) Stupid exaggerations with dramatic music, instead of letting the scenes (or athletes…) speak for themselves… ever heared of the Iron Man, Wimbledon or Olympic Decathlon? The only thing that is missing are 3 advertisement sections in this 8 Minute block and athletes acting as if they were living on Red Bull Energy Drinks...
Back pain? You have to try this bit.ly/3uEaHAA
It is amazing and inspiring that both Wengen and Kitzbuhel still challenge the best skiers in the world after so many decades. The mountains will always demand and deserve respect.
I'm 72 and have skied since 4th grade (9yrs old). This was back before non-releasing ski bindings.
The skiis were all wood and much longer per one's height, skied in galoshes (slide-on over one's shoes rubber boots with zippers or buckles), bamboo ski poles. Very few wore actual ski parkas, rope tows consisted of very thin clothesline type ropes that you held on with just generic leather palmed gloves. Primitive!
Eventually would come release bindings, ski boots and thicker ropes.
In 9th grade I begged for "metal" skiis, still no "buckled" boots. The bigger hills installed T-bar lifts and some, chair lifts. These brought new "technical" challenges of getting on and off. Ski parkas and ski pants showed up...morphing into "stretch" pants.
Ski magazines abound (how a lot of us taught ourselves how to ski the latest techniques. I devoured them.
I'm born and raised in Wisconsin, so the ski environment was modest and somewhat limited. But that was was all we had.
Even high-school, it was a rather elitist sport that only few were able to access. I was a decent skier and I knew no one who raced.
But I was ADDICTED!
Our whole family (me and two sisters) skied (after a fashion). My father was from out east and my mother from Duluth. So they were used to snow growing up, but not accomplished in
any sense.
I'm mansged to ski some out west during college and after and skied a lot locally (yo-yo skiing up/down).
I taught my wife and two children how to ski (reluctantly on their part at first). They developed into good "social skiers" and my son was varsity on his high-school ski team and skied the Rockies with his cousin, aunt and uncle
Brother-in-law born and raised in Boulder. He and my sister still ski out there at age 70 and 71.
Enjoy viewing ski racing etc.
Thanks for the download.
Those were the days.
I still have marks on my head from getting egg-beater'd with my skiis in a tumble.
For young viewers, this was in the days you tied your skiis to your ankles so you didn't lose them.
@@terryallen9546 and if the leather straps were frozen they'd break and you spent an afternoon looking for you ski.
You can't see the equipment when it is under powder or flying by at a mighty clip.
I led the same skiing life as you !! Started skiing 8 years old (1964) on a 250 foot vert hill in Mansfield Ohio called Snow Trails. Grew up skiing with the owners son !! We ruled !! Ski patrol hated us and more than once we ended up in the owners office ( my friends Father) and were banished from skiing for a week !! USSA Central Division Region 4 ski racing. Raced against Cindy Nelson (US Ski Team) Alan Kildow (Lindsey Vonns dad) got my ass kicked. Skied Minnesota top to bottom Those Buck Hill kids were the tops !! After 55 years of wear and tear, ankles knees hips 3 lower discs gone I had to give it up !! Addicted !! I was and now my passion and my purpose have been taken from me. Memories and no regrets! Do it all over again in a heart beat !!
Great short docu. Love this race. Best of the season for the men!
Respekt an das Schweizer Militär, ohne Sie währe so ein Rennen nicht möglich! Respect for the Swiss Army, without them its not possible to have a race like this!
Thank you for helping us to understand and appreciate this race. Wow!
I worked a winter in Bern just before retireing. Skiing every weekend when the weather allowed. I was in Wengen, doing the Lauberhorn more than 10 times before I could break 9 minutes, no bones broken though. It is a great run but a challenge for a 64 year old beer belly. Switzerland in the winter is so great, given that you can afford it. Go try it yourself, you will not regret it.
“Given that you can afford it” - life hack: work as an expect in Switzerland and you can afford it ;) you did it totally right!
Lived in Hermance (CH-1248) from 97 to 2010 ~ made it to Wengen only once (2009? 08?) for race weekend
Did you ski the whole course without stopping for rest?
@@humanbeing2420 A number of slow turns to get speed, breathing and thigh under control but no stopping. I had the opportunity to visit Wengen again last winter and did the full run again, great as ever. This time with another minute and a half on the clock though. Not bad when you are at the mature age of 72. Of course the run is affected quite a bit by the conditions of the day. As wonderful as a perfect day is with great snow and sunshine, as harrowing it can be on the mountain in high winds, fog and ice.
Do I detect a little bit of tounge in cheek by the question? Well, to be fully open I do the run on one ski as I lost the lower part of one leg many years ago. That adds a bit to the challenge, but not much. I doubt that I could cut much time off the clock by adding another ski.
Wow! 😳 On one ski! That’s very impressive! 😎👍
Grew up skiing in Wengen best place ever
Ever since I've been into downhill, this is my favorite course. A lot of my ski friends have heard of " The Strief" but when I bring up " Lauberhorn" or " Wengen", I get blank stares.
Then, they don't know much about skiing... as much as I know about cricket, I guess!😉
Wow, absolutely incredible and eye-opening video. I've never heard about a Dh run in any sport being so taxing, fascinating. Even the Megavalanche of Mtb at Alpe D'Huez, which combines harsh terrain, major traffic, grade and altitude can be defeated in ~1 hr by capable riders with no major failures of the bike. Lauberhorn however appears to be 2.5mins of the most intense downhill the world has to offer, cheers for the video
A good analysis of Lauberhorn downhill course, the mother of all downhill courses. To me the race Saturday in January is the most important day in winter. A sport challenge beyond compare.
very interesting comment. in your opinion, how does the shortened course compare to the full course? Interpret this freely
@@xCLiCH3E I am always disapointed when they run the shortened course like this year. Wthout the full length of meters and seconds the drivers do not experience the same amount of exhaustion which is a characteristic attribute of the full course.
Wow. I thought the hahnenkamm in Kitzbuhel was tough but this course is also insane.
Carres affûtées obligatoire ! Merci les préparateurs...
Visited Wengen 5 times and ran the track....what a ride!
One of my top 3 sporting contests, Le Mans 24hrs and the America's Cup being the other 2.
Skied over the Hundschopf one year in March a very gnarly mogul field by then and under the railway bridge. It's not obvious during the race, but there is a compression under the bridge, so I fell. A couple of years later I was there for the race.
Happy times.
I would love to spend a winter living in a ski town like this .wow man it is like in a dream
I've been there and did the course in just under 8 minutes haha
Max Clerckx speed demon
@@counterfit5 🤩
i did it in 10 :p
U know they ice the track before races?
Just getting down without wiping out is a victory.
the most important thing to remember is that in those clips it all looks kinda easy, but if you were at the hundschopf personally or at the old entrance to the finish, it looks fucking different. lets face it, 85% of skiers dont even go down there because its so steep. and in those videos it looks like almost flat :D
I went down there and I will never do it again
I've done it several times. However, the course took me over six minutes to finish XD
I love it. Since l was 13 !!! 1965 .
1:33 Bernhard Russi speaks
Anyone see that dude fall at 2:54
Alexander Allbee 😂
Alexander Allbee me
Hahah
I also did. Funny.
Ahahaha great !
Nice Work...the Legendary footage of the past greats, the course remains the same...
Damn, I miss Bode Miler :(
R.I.P., Bill Johnson, first American to win the Lauberhorn downhill in 1984. He then went on to win the final 3 downhills of the season. Olympic gold at the Olympics in Sarajevo, and victories at Aspen Colorado & Whistler, B.C. Canada. Paving the way to victory for other great American downhillers.
I totally agree with your comment.! I am a big fan of him.! Thank you R.I.P. Bill Johnson
R.I.P. Gernot Reinstadler😢😢😢
I wish I'd never seen the video of his accident, just horrible.
STANDING ON A DOWNHILL COURSE IN MAMMOTH MTN CALIF: HAIRJUMP,WHEN THE COMPETITORS CREASTED THE RIDGE AT 80 MPH YOU COULD HEAR THE WIND AS IT HIT THEIR BODIES,MAKING A TWUUT SOUND,LIKE WHEN A BULLET PASSES BY YOUR HEAD..
THE COURAGE IT TAKES TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO SKI AT THAT SPEED IS INSPIRING.
The more you ski something the better and faster you get at it.
In loving memory of Gernot Reinstadler.
Thanks for your nice presentation.
Please note following
The right village"s name is Wengen and not vengan
Cheers from Switzerland
Darren,
"Hundschopf" doesn't mean "elevator shaft." It's transliteration is "dog's head."
+synapse131 In fact, it means the hair on the head of a dog or kind of a doghouse.
That is what I always thought, but long-time race director Viktor Gertsch, when I interviewed him about the race for a piece in the Financial Times, assured me it was a local word meaning dog's nose. He might, though, have been taking the mickey out of a naive foreigner who knew nothing about skiing.
Swiss guy here: Schundschopf literally means dog shed (or barn).
@@NewtonInDaHouseYo
Thanks for the clarification. I wonder who told Darren it was “elevator shaft?” That seems odd.
Let it all hang out! TUCK AND ROLL, NO FEAR. MAMA HERE I COME., legs don't fail me now! LOL SWANK AN SWOOSH BABY!
When they talk about your legs burning, then mean the thighs and yes they burn with lactic acid, so to go down such a long course you'd have to be a great skier in top shape, otherwise you'd collapse short of the finish line.
This is a great video. It would be nice if you told us who the skiers were in the old footage. Assume the Canadian is Ken Read and the Austrian is Franz Klammer but there's no way of knowing.
+Alex Woods Only know the first one - Peter "Pitsch" Müller.
#11 in the yellow suit is Read for sure. His son is really starting to make some progress on the WC this year.
Thanks! Ken is a god and I had no idea his son was a racer.
Nordschleife of skiing
I think Streif is similar to Nordschleife. This is more like Hockenheim^^
And above all else requires massive balls
Would've been good to know who those two dudes were giving their thoughts on the course. Additionally, would've been good to have some footage a little more up to date.
chad fleischer and bode miller
m.ruclips.net/video/gKl3QU5ZBIM/видео.html point of view camera of this year
it's in the description. And there is lots of "up to date" footage on youtube.. ...btw, i really LOVE the remastered footage of the 70s...
okay, that looks tough.
What cruel irony that RUclips decides to recommend this to me today..
Fuck me... yeah same
They filmed the 1969 film "Down Hill Racer" with Robert Redford! On this famous hill.
It not only can destroy careers, it can kill you! Gernot Reinstadler died there at the age of 20. He crashed into a net and was nearly torn into 2 halfs. The snow turned red and he did not survive this crash
I always think Reinstadler, when I hear Wengen... Since I knew, what happened to him, I see downhill skiing with other eyes...
It's seriously demanding, but there are plenty of other sports that are just as demanding and over a similar or even a much longer period of time. Most of them, though are not nearly as dangerous.
Bode back one more time for '18 Olympics DH curtain call? Heard rumors...
why is the vast majority of the footage in this video ancient??
To show that the course hasn't changed at all over that time. Most downhills change over time or are very dependent on the course setter. The classics like Wengen and Kitzbuhel are the same every year with very minor tweaks
Yeah vast majority of your comment ancient, were in 2018 fellow
Sorry, just tugging your leg friend
Listen, they did nothing on the Zielsprung, your fellow Americans had big luck, not to die 😎
classic old footage...
4:19 well someone doesn't watch motorcycle races
Well I believe him nobody would be able to drive a motorcycle at that speed on ice on this ski track.
I believe this is from *The Thin Line*
www.imdb.com/title/tt1569984/
Idk why people think motorcycles can turn. They can’t turn as well as cars it’s obvious actually
"..has created legends and destroyed careers", even demanded a life
Not to show the death of Reinstadler
Just go straight really fast. When something gets in your way, turn.
aircraft....mmm
If you can afford it….
M
"There is perhaps no better test of an athlete in any sport" - this documentary officially got americanized ;) Stupid exaggerations with dramatic music, instead of letting the scenes (or athletes…) speak for themselves… ever heared of the Iron Man, Wimbledon or Olympic Decathlon? The only thing that is missing are 3 advertisement sections in this 8 Minute block and athletes acting as if they were living on Red Bull Energy Drinks...
pro cycling is tougher !
You can't compare those two.
Tomasz Nobilec no.
in Wengen I always think of Gernot Reinstadler... 🩸🩸🩸
"The Energy of downhill is Kitzbuhel ~ the Essence of Downhill, is Wengen" ⛷️♥️⛷️
The american ski-racer accent has to be one of the most irritating accent out there.
It's the American accent in general. God, it's awful...
Nikola Mladenoff typical euro snob
F,,, you both, Euro trash for sure.
The European mindset has poisoned the world.