Behind the scenes at the world’s hardest downhill: The Streif in Kitzbühel

There’s no manual for preparing the Streif—it’s a process built on experience, knowledge, and intuition. The racetrack is managed all year round by the KSC mountain team under the guidance of the Chief of Piste and Race Director. Their work spans every season:

• Post-race refurbishing: Removing nets and repairing terrain
• Summer: Mowing areas and maintaining infrastructure
• Fall: Installing safety nets and mobile avalanche barriers
• Winter: Ensuring snow depth and firmness, plus manual slope preparation (snow groomers can’t operate on gradients up to 85%)

Over 10 km of safety nets are installed, and the team relies on crampons, shovels, skis, and specialized quads for manual work. Artificial snowmaking ensures consistency in low-snow years, supported by Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel.

Preparing the Streif isn’t something you learn from a manual—it’s built on decades of experience and sharp intuition. As Jan Überall, General Secretary of the Kitzbühel Ski Club, explains, every decision on the mountain comes from lessons learned over countless seasons. Jan gave us an inside look at what it takes to keep the world’s toughest downhill ready for race day:

“The Streif is managed year-round by the KSC mountain team. Immediately after the race, the slope is refurbished and nets removed, followed by summer mowing, fall installations of nets and avalanche barriers, and ongoing infrastructure maintenance. When snow arrives, the real challenge begins: shaping the course without snow groomers, which can’t operate on gradients up to 85%. Every meter is prepared manually—a demanding task that even the Austrian army uses for crampon training. Fortunately, our crew’s decades of experience and rigorous training minimize risks, though the steep terrain and unpredictable conditions make this one of the toughest jobs in alpine sport.”

This new edition brings fresh storylines to the Streif—comebacks, breakthroughs, and national pride that will shape the 86th edition.

Few athletes embody resilience like Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. His crash in Wengen in January 2024 was more than a setback—it led to five surgeries, a severe infection, and months of uncertainty. For a time, even lifting his arm seemed impossible.

Now, after a grueling rehab and countless hours on snow, Kilde is back. Originally aiming for Beaver Creek, he surprised fans by returning earlier at Copper Mountain’s Super-G on November 27, 2025. His comeback isn’t just about racing—it’s about rebuilding confidence with Milano-Cortina 2026 on the horizon.

Expect fireworks when Kilde takes on the Streif again, facing rivals like Marco Odermatt and the new generation of speed specialists.

If 2025 was historic, 2026 could be transformative for Canadian skiing. Last January, James Crawford claimed his first World Cup victory—and became the first Canadian to win the Hahnenkamm downhill in 42 years. His time of 1:53.64 edged Switzerland’s Alexis Monney by 0.08 seconds, while teammate Cameron Alexander stormed to third, marking a 1–3 Canadian finish on the world’s toughest course.

Crawford’s triumph earned him a gondola on the Hahnenkamm lift in July 2025—a tribute reserved for legends. His win echoes the glory days of the Crazy Canucks and signals a renaissance for Alpine Canada.

2025–26 Canadian Men’s Alpine Team Highlights:

• James Crawford – Toronto, ON (2025 Hahnenkamm Champion)
• Cameron Alexander – North Vancouver, BC (3rd in 2025 Downhill)
• Jeffrey Read – Canmore, AB
• Brodie Seger – North Vancouver, BC
• Broderick Thompson – Whistler, BC

Canada enters 2026 with momentum and ambition, ready to take on the Streif with fearless determination and eyes firmly set on Milano-Cortina.