Lauberhorn (downhill ski course)
| Lauberhorn | |
|---|---|
| Place: | Wengen |
| Mountain: | Lauberhorn |
| Member: | Club5+ |
| Opened: | 1930 |
| Level: | advanced |
| Competition: | Lauberhornrennen |
| Downhill | |
| Start: | 2,315 m (7,595 ft) (AA) |
| Finish: | 1,287 m (4,222 ft) |
| Vertical drop: | 1,028 m (3,373 ft) |
| Length: | 4,480 m (2.78 mi) |
| Max. incline: | 42 degrees (90%) |
| Avr. incline: | 14.7 degrees (26.2%) |
| Min. incline: | 6 degrees (10.5%) |
| Most wins: | Karl Molitor (6x) |
| Super-G | |
| Start: | 2,025 m (6,644 ft) (AA) |
| Finish: | 1,287 m (4,222 ft) |
| Vertical drop: | 738 m (2,421 ft) |
| Length: | 2,950 m (1.83 mi) |
Lauberhorn is the longest and oldest active World Cup downhill ski course in the world, which is located and named after the same name mountain in Wengen, Switzerland. It debuted in 1930 and with Switzerland's long history of neutrality, downhill competitions were held during World War II.
Part of the Lauberhornrennen, the oldest active alpine ski competition in the world, the famous classic downhill course offers extraordinary scenery underneath the massive Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains in the Bernese Alps.
The Lauberhorn is the longest course on the World Cup circuit at 4.48 kilometres (2.78 miles). Its incline of 42 degrees (90%) at the iconic "Hundschopf" jump course is the steepest section on the circuit.
In 1983, slalom was going to be held on this downhill course, not on Männlichen slalom course, the only time in history of this race. However all races that weekend were cancelled due to heavy snowfall.
On 18 January 1991, at the official downhill training, one of the most horrifying fatal crashes happened when Austrian Gernot Reinstadler crashed at full speed into the safety net below the Ziel-S, immediately before the finish. All races were cancelled that weekend and new safety measures were implemented.
Lauberhorn was one of the most traditional venues of combined events (classic, super, and alpine).