By Gerald Salmina
With Aksel Lund Svindal, Erik Guay, Max Franz, Yuri Danilochkin, Hannes Reichelt
Only those with perfect technique and great courage can get to the end of the Streif, the Hahnenkamm downhill course in Kitzbühel, probably the most prestigious ski run in the world.
For 75 years, the annual Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel (Austria) has been the scene of memorable victories and heartbreaking tragedies, a legacy overflowing with myths and legends. Nowhere else is skiing celebrated with such intensity. The city, the nation, the entire winter sports world stops to follow the battles that take place on the slopes, and the descent on the Streif is the most anticipated event of the year. Kitzbühel is to skiing what Wimbledon is to tennis, what Monte Carlo is to Formula 1 and the Hawaii Ironman is to triathlon: an epoch-making competition that can consecrate or destroy a skier’s career, giving rise to unforgettable triumphs and defeats. We follow five great skiers Aksel Lund Svindal (Norway), Erik Guay (Canada), Max Franz (Austria), Hannes Reichelt (Austria) and debutant Yuri Danilochkin (Belarus) during their preparation in summer and discover all the hard work necessary to maintain the high level required by the Streif, but above all we experience the tension preceding the magical moment of the race, identifying with the biggest wish of any skier: to be the fastest on the Streif.
