Milestones, anecdotes & bizarre facts

In 2023, we celebrated 30 years of the Ski World Cup Sölden. A good occasion to look back and review the most important milestones, anecdotes and scurrilities. Ready for a trip down memory lane?

The man behind Sölden's World Cup

Jack Falkner

Jack Falkner played a decisive role in the organisation of the World Cup opening in Sölden. More than 20 years ago, there was scepticism about a glacier race, but Falkner, the long-time OC president, forged strategic alliances with the glacier ski resorts of Saas-Fee and Zermatt. The idea was, if these glaciers are good enough for pre-season preparation, why not for a World Cup race? Falkner convinced teams and organisers, became an ambassador for Sölden and talked tirelessly. At the same time, various races were organised in Sölden to increase visibility. In 1990, Sölden was finally awarded the contract for a race, and the World Cup opening has been an annual highlight there since 2000.

1989

It doesn't hurt to ask - The Sölden-Hochsölden Ski Club is applying to the Tyrolean Ski Association to organise the Ski World Cup opening races in early winter 1991. The Gaislachkogl or Hochsölden downhill runs are suggested as possible locations.

1990

Good news from Montreaux - Sölden is awarded the contract for a race at the FIS Congress. Of the original ‘triple axis’ of Sölden, Tignes and Saas-Fee, only Sölden ultimately remains - the organisation and backdrop convince the FIS organisers.

1993

Permiere fieber - For the first time, the Ski World Cup kick-off on the Rettenbachferner takes place on the piste. Initially, the giant slalom races take place every two years. 14 TV stations and 370 journalists report live from Sölden.

1996

Bomb atmosphere of a different kind - The organising team is confronted with an anonymous threat that there is a bomb in the marquee! What now? The police check the tent and find nothing. Together they decide that the threat should not be taken seriously.

1998

Fanatic - The fan club parade and the supporting programme are brought to life. Former ski racer Andre Arnold from Sölden plays the ORF cameraman: armed with a massive camera, he fights his way down the steep slope - long before there were GoPros.

2000

Every year - Instead of the previous two-year rhythm, the Ski World Cup Opening will now take place every year on the Rettenbachferner high above Sölden. At this time, the giant slaloms for men and women are already considered classics in the racing calendar.

2001

Not a castle in the air - the finish stadium is built. Until then, the announcers' booths were housed in containers and a tent served as a base for journalists. By the way: In the pre-digital era, the boiler room on the glacier served as a darkroom for photographers.

2002

It's really close on the top podium - Tina Maze, Andrine Flemmen and the Austrian Niki Hosp finish at the same time and fairly share first place in the women's giant slalom.

2006

Sooner or later it was bound to happen - Even though the organisers in Sölden are said to be lucky with the weather, the World Cup races had to be cancelled for the first time this year due to the weather.

2009

Oldie but Goldie - At 35 years and 3 months, the Swiss Didier Cuche is the oldest winner of a giant slalom at this time. In keeping with Austria's bank holidays, Wolfang Ambros takes to the stage at the end of the race weekend.

2012

Ahead of the times - Ted Ligety from the USA wins the men's giant slalom by 2.75 seconds. The Salt Lake City-born RTL specialist is still the record holder in Sölden with four victories on the Rettenbachferner.

2014

Snow olé - Up to 120 cm of fresh snow falls on the glacier shortly before the race weekend. And presents the organising team with a mammoth task. Within one day, work that normally takes five days is completed. The races are saved!

2015

Like clockwork - Before camera drones flew through the air in the Ski World Cup circus, there were cable cams, which are being used for the first time this year. Suspended on two wire cables, the camera follows athletes parallel to the race course.

2018

Ladies only - As in the previous year, only the ladies can take part in this year's giant slalom on the Rettenbach Glacier. Stormy winds and extreme snowfall prevent the men's races from taking place.

2020

In the covid bubble - the pandemic is turning everything upside down and requires the organising team to come up with a sophisticated safety concept that is proving its worth. The number of people on the Rettenbach Glacier has shrunk from the usual 25,000 fans to around 1,400 people per race day.

2022

Back to normality - the corona restrictions are history and the way is clear again for an exuberant ski festival in Sölden. 14,500 fans don't need to be asked twice to cheer on the men's skiers, while the women have to take a break this time due to the snowfall.