World Cup opening in Sölden
THE OPENING ON THE RETTENBACH GLACIER
Every year in October keen ski fans’ hearts will be bursting with anticipation. The biggest stars of the ski scene will stand at the start line on the Rettenbach glacier, high above Sölden – and for the first time in the new season will take themselves to their limits. ‘Ladies first’ is the order of the day at the ski opening in Sölden too. The ladies start off with the first giant slalom in the Alpine Ski World Cup. On Sunday the men show their mettle.
The World Cup slope
FOR SIMPLY THE BEST
The ingredients for the perfect adrenaline hit
- Start altitude: 3040 m
- Finish altitude: 2670 m
- Altitude difference: 370 m
- Lowest gradient: 15.5 %
- Steepest route section: 65 %
- Average gradient: 33.1 %
- Gates: between 41 and 56 gates, depending on the course
- Speed of the race skiers: about 65 – 80 km/hour
- Required material: 5,000 m security fence; 4,000 m safety net; 11,500 m cable, 210 m airfence, 260m fence
- Finish area and stadium directly at the Rettenbach glacier – 1500 seats, press centre with 100 work stations, 15 live broadcast cabins
From times past to today
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE WORLD CUP OPENING
History & Records
In 1993 the Alpine Ski World Cup made a guest appearance for the first time here in Sölden. Since the millennium the giant slalom for men and ladies at the end of October has marked the official start of the international World Cup winter. Two years later, in 2002, history was written – Slovenian Tina Maze, Norwegian Andrine Flemmen and Austrian Nicole Hosp emerged as World Cup Race victors, with the same times. The victory record is held by Tina Maze, Ted Ligety and Hermann Maier, all three-time gold winners on the Rettenbach Glacier. Ted Ligety won in 2012 with the biggest margin – a whole 2.75 seconds separated him and second-placed Marcel Hirscher.