The legendary Streif

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The Streif is the most spectacular downhill ski race track in the world. It brings the best skiers from every corner of the world together in an almost gladiator style fight for the honour of victory on the Streif. During the winter, before and after the race, the Streif is a public ski area and one can tackle the racecourse or the easier Family Streif, which offers two alternative gradients.

In downhill ski racing, the Streif, is regarded as the ultimate challenge because of the diversity of its terrain. All the elements of a classic downhill course can be found on the Streif, high speed breathtaking jumps, steep slopes, flat out gliding sections, curves, compressions, spectacular bumps and even a short uphill section just before the Seidlalm jump. The Streif has it all.

Possible for every good skier

The Streif can be tackled in winter by most intermediate skiers. The start house is opposite the summit station of the Hahnenkamm cable car. The famous sections such as the Mausefalle, Steilhang and Hausbergkante, are marked as “extreme ski routes” and are often in very icy condition. These sections are for expert skiers only.

Family Streif

The Family Streif is a special highlight for skiers and snowboarders. The extreme sections of the racecourse can be missed out giving the opportunity to negotiate the other sections of the racecourse on the descent back to the town, by following the “Red 21” on the Kitzbuehel ski map.

No longer a completely closed piste!

In the summer of 2010, alterations were made to the Streif, including the introduction of a section from the exit of the Steilhang to the ridge before the Seidlalm that runs parallel to the racecourse but higher up the mountain. This has made it possible to ski next to the Streif during the preparation work in January and during the race weekend. Other key areas are still closed from around January 6th onwards for necessary race preparation but disruption is kept to a minimum.

Weeks of work are required to prepare the course for the race. Snow must be transported to the right places and the terrain has to be corrected if necessary with additional snow. The entire track is then prepared, frozen and solidified, with safety and security fencing, provisions for television coverage, a public address system and other related work to allow the race to take place.

Streif – The nickname

The world famous Downhill course is named after the Streifalm, the meadow on the upper part of the course. In turn, the pasture was probably named after a farmer named Brixner “Straiff”. The Mausefalle jump was baptised by Toni Sailer Senior, father of the skiing superstar, because the section in question reminded him of an old wire mousetrap. Just like a mouse within the wire case, the downhill racers make their way down this steep slope following the jump. The Mausefalle has been in use since the early 1950’s.

Technical Details of the Streif

Start elevation	1.665 m	Hahnenkamm Bergstation
Finish elevation	805 m	Rasmusleiten
Difference in elevation	860 m
Length of piste	3.312 m
Average slope angle	27%
Maximal angle	85%	Mausefalle
Logest jump	80 m	Mausefalle, Last jump
Maximum speed	145 km/H	End schuss
Average speed	103 km/H
Race record	1.51.58 min	Fritz Strobl 1997
Most wins	Klammer (AUT) Cuche (SUI)	4 times 5 times