October 24th, 2011 by matt
After the US took top prize in the women’s FIS season opener on the Rettenbach glacier above Solden, it was the turn of the men and once again the US took 1st place with Ted Ligety on top over the 2 legs. Results from yesterday were as follows:
1. Ted Ligety (USA) 2:22.00
2. Alexis Pinturault (FRA) + 0.29
3. Philipp Schörghofer (AUT) 0.51
4. Carlo Janka (SUI) 0.58
5. Ivica Kostelic (CRO) 1.16
6. Marcel Hirscher (AUT) 1.23
=6. Thomas Fanara (FRA) 1.23
8. Steve Missillier (FRA) 1.26
9. Bode Miller (USA) 1.32
10. Kjetil Jansrud (NOR) 1.37
11. Romed Baumann (AUT) 1.40
12. Aksel Lund Svindal (NOR) 1.41
13. Fritz Dopfer (GER) 1.42
14. Gauthier de Tessieres (FRA) 1.65
15. Andre Myhrer (SWE) 1.66
16. Marcus Sandell (FIN) 1.68
17. Manfred Mölgg (ITA) 1.72
18. Massimiliano Blardone (ITA) 1.73
19. Benjamin Raich (AUT) 1.76
20. Hannes Reichelt (AUT) 1.96
21. Davide Simoncelli (ITA) 2.01
22. Jean-Philippe Roy (CAN) 2.06
23. Alexander Ploner (ITA) 2.41
24. Marc Berthod (SUI) 2.43
25. Sandro Viletta (SUI) 2.82
26. Cyprien Richard (FRA) 2.88
27. Giovanni Borsotti (ITA) 2.36
28. Didier Defago (SUI) 2:28.75
Some consolation for the Austrians was that there were no Swiss or Germans ahead of them today and whilst not officially part of the FIS standing I would imagine the Austrians won top prize at the apres ski - Solden offers apres ski as good as it gets anywhere and the October race weekend is something to behold.
October 22nd, 2011 by matt
New season and nothing new in seeing the US on top of the women’s podium. Lindsey Vonn took the opening FIS women’s race on the Rettenbach glacier today high above Solden with Elisabeth Görgl coming in third for the Austrians. More painful for the Austrians maybe seeing a German finish above any Austrians on their home snow? Bode is in action tomorrow as well as a lot of talented Swiss so maybe the suffering will continue - shame the Austrians cannot send down their ski jumpers! The top ten results from Solden today:
1. Lindsey Vonn (USA) 2:24.43
2. Viktoria Rebensburg (GER) + 0.04
3. Elisabeth Görgl (AUT) + 0.40
4. Tessa Worley (FRA) + 0.80
5. Maria Pietilä-Holmner (SWE) + 0.90
6. Anna Fenninger (AUT) + 1.24
7. Kathrin Zettel (AUT) + 1.48
8. Jessica Lindell-Vikarby (SWE) + 1.53
9. Taina Barioz (FRA) + 1.81
10. Julia Mancuso (USA) + 1.86
The Solden glacier looked in great shape and if anything there seemed too much snow on the racing line, something that they will have been preparing to avoid until the heavy snows of the last few days. The men race tomorrow - Solden will party all weekend!
September 16th, 2011 by matt
With the FIS calendar soon to kick off, hospitality and atmosphere on a big scale are descending on the Alps. Things start off for the men in Solden on the weekend of the 22nd-23rd October with the men’s and women’s giant slalom. Solden has huge events going on to mark the FIS season opening and for corporate groups looking to entertain as well as get some early season turns in, Solden is a great option with the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers offering skiing to over 3200m. Slightly later in the season and possibly the biggest winter ski event in the Alps, the Kitzbuhel Hahnenkamm race weekend offers the perfect setting for corporate hospitality and a carnival atmosphere that cannot be beaten. Practice days are followed by 3 serious days of racing and partying that really are unmatched in the entire Alps region. Celebrities from both on and off the snow mingle with the masses for an unmissable weekend. The race weekend runs from the 18th to 22nd January 2012.
October 27th, 2010 by matt
Those on the Stubai Glacier yesterday were served up a staggering 80cm of new snow - surely the best day of the autumn season so far. The other glaciers are also have superb snow depths:
Hintertux Glacier 155cm
Pitztal Glacier 143cm
Molltal Glacier 140cm
Kaunertal Glacier 123cm
Kitzsteinhorn Glacier 114cm
Solden Glacier 105cm
Not all good for those in the Stubai valley though as the snow storm took out power and internet connections for large parts of the valley. Shops were unable to take electronic payments and homes and businesses had no internet connectivity. Had my internet gone down in the Stubai valley I would have picked up my skis and headed south to the glacier!
April 21st, 2009 by matt
Late February, looking back toward Brixen and the main section of the Ski Welt Wilder Kaiser region from Westendorf on the best day in the region that I have ever encountered. There was tons of new snow and the clouds had a real symmetry to them especially viewed from the new top station of the Choralmbahn gondola.
The new Choralmbahn gondola – image © skiingaustria.co.uk
February 4th, 2009 by matt
Carrying a back injury for 3 weeks now and exacerbated by some very intense routes in the Krippenstein Freeride Arena over the weekend, I have been off skis for a few days now. Today we had a meeting in Hochsolden and it was my turn to watch from the sidelines – great weather and seemingly great conditions on-piste. The weather is set to get colder and more unsettled with snow over the weekend and next week but today was really glorious – from the terrace of a good hotel at least.
Kaiser wetter in Hochsolden, 4th Feb 09 – image © skiingaustria.co.uk
