Hahnenkamm Races and the Streif

• The races on the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbühel have been held since 1931.
• They have been part of the Alpine Ski World Cup since 1967.
• The Streif is the famous downhill course of the race weekend.
• The traditional programme includes downhill, super-G and slalom.
• The slalom takes place on the Ganslernhang.
• The races traditionally take place in January.

The Hahnenkamm Races combine top-level Alpine skiing with a compact venue: events take place on the mountain above Kitzbühel, with the town close to the Streif finish area. The name therefore refers not only to a downhill race but to a full weekend of competition across several disciplines. Since the World Cup began, Kitzbühel has been a regular stop on the circuit.

The Streif runs from the Hahnenkamm towards Kitzbühel. Its profile alternates steep and flatter sections; famous features include the Mausefalle, Steilhang, Brückenschuss and the final jump. This sequence explains why choosing a fast line is not enough: after a jump, racers must control the landing, absorb the forces and prepare for the next change of direction. The classic Streif downhill is 3,312 metres long, although the course can be adjusted for individual editions.

The programme traditionally includes more than the downhill. The super-G follows a course on the Hahnenkamm, while the slalom on the Ganslernhang has a very different technical character. The combined event was once a central part of the weekend; a classic combination was last held in 2013, and the super-combination continued until 2016. The format has since evolved, with the individual races now at its centre.

The first edition took place in 1931. The races joined the Alpine Ski World Cup in 1967. For many years, the official title of “Hahnenkamm winner” was associated with the combined-event champion; today, public attention is focused especially on the downhill winner. Multiple victories in Kitzbühel are considered a special distinction, reflecting the event's strong identity with its location.

The race weekend is also an opportunity to discover Kitzbühel as a winter resort. The town and mountain create an unusually close connection between Alpine scenery and an urban finish area. For an independent look at the region, see our guides to skiing in the Kitzbühel Alps and ski holidays in Tyrol. The event is part of the Alpine Ski World Cup, where other Alpine classics also compete for points.

The Streif is used as a race course for the World Cup downhill, with a profile tailored to the demands of speed racing. As a spectator, the race is best understood through the interplay of terrain, pace and split-second decisions. The slalom on the Ganslernhang complements the weekend with short turns and closely spaced gates. Together, the races make Kitzbühel one of the defining events in skiing.