A spectator's view of the Lauberhorn - Julian Griffiths
Tuesday January 20, 2009 - Email this article to a friend

The 79th Lauberhorn World Cup Downhill in the beautiful Swiss resort of Wengen is without doubt the biggest and best sporting event of the year in Switzerland.

The race, a torturous winding test of courage, skill and precision is the longest course on The World Cup circuit.

Imortalised in the 1969 Robert Redford Film, Down Hill Racer, Wengen is also one of the most beautiful ski resorts in Switzerland, situated high above the spectacular Brunnen Valley.

Wengen is also famous for it’s British Racing club the DHO (The Down Hill Only Club). The cliffs on which it sits are the setting for the fictional death of Sherlock Holmes and it is opposite the village of Mürren which hosted the worlds first slalom, organized by the British. 

Across the face of the EigerWengen is accessed by cute cog trains which continue up to the top of the race course. And just before the ski race begins the Swiss Airforce presents an amazing display to get us all in the mood.

A Canadian team coach I was chatting with on the train (racers, coaches, ski men and spectators all catch the same train to the top) told me they call The Lauberhorn the superbowl of the Swiss sporting calender and it’s not hard to see why.

29,000 people came to watch Didier Defago win this year, and the atmosphere is more like fooball than skiing. It was electric.

Lauber - hornThousands of Swiss people ski down by the side of the course as the first racers take their turn, then everyone takes the best place they can find to watch the first Swiss racer.

When he comes past the crowds push against the extensive fencing to see their boy ski. As  the fist Swiss racer takes to the course the mountain comes alive with rapturous noise.

The first thing you hear is the cow bells.

Party atmosphereEach self-respecting Swiss ski fan has one and rings it with great vigor. The more dedicated you are the bigger your cow bell.  One man had 12 cow bells swinging below an enormous yolk on his shoulders.

The excitement, cheering and general emotion is quite un-Swiss. The crowd of 20,000 that gathers below the Hundschopf jump sportingly wave their red flags for former  2 x winner Bode Miller and other notable talents as well as the Swiss entries as they tackle the course.  There's no booing, just sporting support.

All the athletes deserve respect for the bravery on this classic course.

As the best racers finish and the winner is decided Britain’s latest talent to explode on to the world cup, Ed Drake, waited at the start gate.

His run was respectable - a talent to watch in the future. 

Anyone thinking of taking a holiday at the time of the race will be rewarded with the exciting build up to the event and can rub shoulders all week with some of the world's best skiers.

I loved it and I know where I will be this time next year.  In Wengen and hopefully cheering on Ed Drake.

Julian Griffiths is the Director of the ski and snowboarding school, European Snowsport.  It has schools in Verbier and Zermatt.

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