The Austrian Alps town that hosts the world’s most spectacular ski race is also one of Europe’s most compelling destinations for sports lovers and adventure seekers. Sports Illustrated was there this winter, and plans to return.
Tucked into the Tyrolean Alps, Kitzbühel is the kind of place that earns its reputation the hard way. This is the town that hosts the Hahnenkamm—the FIS World Cup downhill widely regarded as the most technically demanding and psychologically punishing ski race on earth. Every January, the world’s best alpine skiers hurl themselves down the Streif at speeds exceeding 80 mph, and the entire town turns into a festival. The energy is something you have to experience to believe.
