Kandahar (ski course)
Kandahar is a classic World Cup downhill ski course in southern Germany. Located in Bavaria at the Garmisch Classic ski area on the Zugspitze above Garmisch-Partenkirchen, it opened 88 years ago in 1936.[1]
| Kandahar | |
|---|---|
| Place: | Garmisch-Partenkirchen |
| Mountain: | Kreuzeck / Zugspitze Garmisch Classic |
| Member: | Club5+ |
| Opened: | 1936 (Kandahar 1) 2009 (Kandahar 2) |
| Competition: | Arlberg-Kandahar races |
| Downhill | |
| Kandahar 1 (women's course) | |
| Start: | 1,490 m (4,888 ft) (AA) |
| Finish: | 770 m (2,526 ft) |
| Vertical drop: | 720 m (2,362 ft) |
| Length: | 2.920 km (1.81 mi) |
| Max. incline: | 40.4 degrees (85%) |
| Most wins (W): | Lindsey Vonn (5x) |
| Most wins (M): | Roland Collombin (3x) Steve Podborski (3x) |
| Kandahar 2 (men's course) | |
| Start: | 1,690 m (5,545 ft) (AA) |
| Finish: | 770 m (2,526 ft) |
| Vertical drop: | 920 m (3,018 ft) |
| Length: | 3.330 km (2.07 mi) |
| Max. incline: | 42.6 degrees (92%) |
In 2009, the new "Kandahar 2" men's course opened, parallel to the original, which became "Kandahar 1".[2][3] With a maximum incline of 42.6 degrees (92%), it has the second steepest gradient on the World Cup circuit.
Since 1954, the Arlberg-Kandahar races have been held here, rotating with other notable downhill courses in Austria, Switzerland, France, and Italy.
Courses
The course was named after Sir Frederick Roberts, a British Victorian era major general known as "Baron of Kandahar", who led the Kabul Field Force in the Second Anglo-Afghan War and defeated Ayub Khan at the Battle of Kandahar. The Kandahar Ski Club of Mürren, Switzerland, was founded by Arnold Lunn and other British skiers in early 1924.
Kandahar 1
The original course, built for the Olympic debut of alpine skiing in 1936, is now used for women's speed events. The downhill course starts on the "Tröglhang" section at 1,490 m (4,888 ft) (AA), and follows mainly the old men's route. After the "Schußanger" with two curves, "Himmelreich" jump follows where the Super-G start is located, then "Bödele". Then comes the "Waldeck" with 85% gradient, the steepest section in women's circuit and a technically very demending traverse. From 2009, course from there continues by newly built route where also giant slalom starts; the "Eishang" is bypassed by via the "Ramwiesen" and via the "Höllentor" it returns to the original Kandahar in "Hölle", the steep section. Then passing the "FIS Schneise", a sloping run that, after a hard left-hand bend, ends in the men's course just before the "Tauber-Schuss".[4]
Kandahar 2
A new downhill run for men in 2009, "Kandahar 2" shares the same start and finish with the original course. It begins at the original start at 1,690 m (5,545 ft) (AA) on Kreuzjoch mountain, reaching speed up to 100 km/h (62 mph) after the "S-Kurve". After the "Tröglhang", the steepest section until 2008, the course continues into newly built route in 2009 to "Olympia-Kurve" and then to "Panorama-Sprung". After that comes the "Alte Quelle", before the route at the "Bödele" returns into the original Kandahar to the start of the giant slalom above "Eishang" and after the cable car jump (40 to 60 m (130 to 195 ft)), the racers turn right into the second newly designed part at the "Kramersprung" (20 to 40 m (65 to 130 ft)). Then to the next newly section called "Padöls" and into "Auf der Mauer" flat passage. Next is "Frei Fall", with 92% incline, the absolute steepest section in this competition. At the end, last couple of hundred metres, routes joins with the old original course into the "Tauber-Schuss" and a twenty-metre (65 ft) jump just before the finish line.
Olympics
Men's events
| Event | Type | Date | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | KB | 7–9 February 1936 | Birger Ruud | Franz Pfnür | Gustav Lantschner |
Women's events
| Event | Type | Date | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | KB | 7–8 February 1936 | Laila Schou Nilsen | Lisa Resch | Käthe Grasegger |
Combined (both downhills held on "Kandahar" and both slaloms on "Gudiberg" course.)
World Championships
Men's events
| Event | Type | Date | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | DH | 29 January 1978 | Josef Walcher | Michael Veith | Werner Grissmann |
| KB | (DH) 29 January 1978 (GS) 2 February 1978 (SL) 5 February 1978 |
Andreas Wenzel | Sepp Ferstl | Pete Patterson | |
| 2011 | SG | 9 February 2011 | Christof Innerhofer | Hannes Reichelt | Ivica Kostelić |
| DH | 12 February 2011 | Erik Guay | Didier Cuche | Christof Innerhofer | |
| SC | 14 February 2011 | Aksel Lund Svindal | Christof Innerhofer | Peter Fill | |
| GS | 18 February 2011 | Ted Ligety | Cyprien Richard | Philipp Schörghofer |
Women's events
| Event | Type | Date | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | SG | 8 February 2011 | Elisabeth Görgl | Julia Mancuso | Maria Riesch |
| SC | 11 February 2011 | Anna Fenninger | Tina Maze | Anja Pärson | |
| DH | 13 February 2011 | Elisabeth Görgl | Lindsey Vonn | Maria Riesch | |
| GS | 17 February 2011 | Tina Maze | Federica Brignone | Tessa Worley |
World Cup
The World Cup circuit debuted in January 1967.
Men
Not in original calendar. It replaced Val d'Isere (1993), Whistler Mountain (1997), Kitzbühel (2005, 2007).
In 1981, GS in Morzine (6 January) counted for combined with DH in Garmisch (10 January).
Women
Not in original calendar. It replaced Val d'Isere (2013).
Sections
Kandahar 1 (W)
- Tröglhang, Schussanger, Himmelreich, Bödele, Eishang, Seilbahn Stadl, Waldeck, Ramwiesen, Höllentor, Hölle, FIS Schneise, Tauber-Schuss
Kandahar 2 (M)
- Tröglhang, Olimpiakurve, Panorama-Sprung, Stegerwald, Alte Quelle, Eishang, Kramarsprung, Padöls, Auf der Mauer, Frei Fall, Tauber-Schuss
Fatal accidents
On 29 January 1994, Austrian ski racer Ulrike Maier suffered fatal injuries at "FIS Schneise" section crashing into intermediate timing device at 105 km/h (65 mph) during the World Cup downhill event. A week before, she won a giant slalom in Maribor.[5][6][7]
Thirty-five years earlier in 1959, Canadian John Semmelink crashed into a rock-filled gully and later succumbed to his injuries.[8] Held on an icy course on 7 February in challenging conditions of fog and flat light, Semmerlink was the 44th racer on the course. At a lower section named Himmelreich (heaven) just 500 yards (460 m) from the finish, witnesses said one of his bindings opened and he crashed into a rock-filled gully.[9] Semmerlink had a serious head injury and was taken by U.S. Army helicopter to a nearby U.S. military dispensary, but died of his injuries.[9][10] Of the 89 starters, 39 did not finish the race.[9][11]
Club5+
In 1986, elite Club5 was originally founded by prestigious classic downhill organizers: Kitzbühel, Wengen, Garmisch, Val d’Isère and Val Gardena/Gröden, with goal to bring alpine ski sport on the highest levels possible.[12]
Later over the years other classic longterm organizers joined the now named Club5+: Alta Badia, Cortina, Kranjska Gora, Maribor, Lake Louise, Schladming, Adelboden, Kvitfjell, St.Moritz and Åre.[13]
References
- "Proga za smuk (column 2, page 5)" (in Slovenian). Jutro. 8 February 1936.
- "Official men's downhill training 2 (2009)" (PDF). International Ski Federation. 30 January 2009.
- "Women's super G (2009)" (PDF). International Ski Federation. 1 February 2009.
- "Kandahar 1 and 2 course graphic profile". gap2011.com. 8 February 2011.
- "V znamenju tragedije (page 11)" (in Slovenian). Delo. 31 January 1994.
- "Na Zlati lisici se je izkazalo še celo vreme (page 1)" (in Slovenian). Delo. 22 January 1994.
- "Ulrike Maier najuspešnejša v prvem lovu na pohorsko lisico (page 7)" (in Slovenian). Delo. 22 January 1994.
- "Canadian ski tragedy, triumph". Ottawa Citizen. (Canada). Canadian Press. 9 February 1959. p. 11.
- Johnson, William Oscar (11 February 1980). "The Downhill: Majesty and Madness". Sports Illustrated. (Olympic preview). p. 97.
- "Ski crash kills Canadian youth". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. 8 February 1959. p. 4, sports.
- "Tragedy mars Canadian ski triumph". Montreal Gazette. (Canada). Canadian Press. 9 February 1959. p. 17.
- "Srečko Medven predsednik elitnega združenje (page 9)" (in Slovenian). Naše novice. June 2010.
- "Club5+ workshop in Adelboden". saslong.org. 23 October 2021.
External links
- zugspitze.de course official site
- FIS Alpine Ski World Cup – Garmisch, Germany
- Ski-db.com - Garmisch men's races
- Ski-db.com - Garmisch women's races