With the 56th rope race in Hochfügen, the organizers presented us with a very funny and curious winter event that, as far as I know, does not exist anywhere else and can therefore claim to be unique. The competition consists of a team of three skiers, connected by a rope, who race as fast as possible along a track full of obstacles. Even former skiing greats can be found at the start. The event goes back to the mountaineers of the region, who prevented the fall into crevasses with their rope teams.
At the 56th rope race, sporting greats such as Michaela Dorfmeister, Günther Mader, Hansjörg Tauscher, Martina Ertl-Renz, Regina Häusl, Tobias Barnerssoi and other well-known faces will go to the start in teams of three tightly knotted together in Hochfügen under the motto "The Legends are back". As the highlight of a series of events, there will be a varied supporting program from March 30-31 as well as a separate children's rope race.
"We are already looking forward to this year's rope race and are all fired up to master the challenge together as a team - with the colorful supporting program and our legends on the slopes, this will be an exciting highlight in this winter season."
knows Helmuth Grünbacher, Managing Director of Skiliftgesellschaft Hochfügen GmbH. On Saturday morning, it is already time for the starters of the 56th rope race. Two skiers tie themselves to a rope 10 meters apart and the third holds the end of the rope in his hand. Then it is time for the team of three to stick together and be fast! Built-in skicross elements provide even more fun and excitement during the race. In the finish area of the race, not only the award ceremony awaits in the afternoon, but also the Snowlicious food event with toque chef Alexander Fankhauser. From his pop-up hood kitchen, on the PRINOTH snowcat, he will conjure up delicacies on the slopes. An alpine market offers up to and including Sunday insights into the traditional, regional craftsmanship and holds culinary delicacies ready - the Zillertaler doughnuts may not be missing here of course. Thus there are palate pleasures beside trophies for the top skiers. The VIP tent and the stage in the finish area bring good atmosphere and the best hits. The victories are celebrated from 16.00 clock at the After Race Party in the Berghotel and from 21.00 clock there is a swinging clubbing in the Montana Alm.
On Sunday morning, it's time for the kids to get out of bed early and get to the start line full of energy: The kids follow in the skiing footsteps of the legends at the 7th Children's Rope Race. The popular children's program from ORF eins "okidoki" presents itself with the stars from TV: Tom Turbo & Fritz Fantom, Heidi and the ABC Bear make children's eyes light up. In addition, the Junge Zillertaler provide a great atmosphere and a great end to a great weekend.
The story about the rope race
The rope race is based on the traditional history of the Hochfügen mountaineers. At
Hiking, mountaineers formed so-called rope teams. Before going over steep passages or glaciers, three climbers tied each other with a 50-meter rope, at intervals of 10 meters,
to each other. Thus, they prevented the fall into crevasses and secured each other on the alpine terrain. In the 60s, the idea arose to incorporate this tradition into a ski race. This is how the legendary rope race in Hochfügen was born. For more than half a century skiers have been carving closely together towards spring. In the long history of the rope race, skiing legends such as Tatjana Mittermayer, Georg Ager, Markus Wasmeier and Annemie Schneider have already tied the rope around themselves and raced onto the winner's podium. Hochfügen and the rope race have been inseparable for over 50 years.
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