25 Years after Victory Racer with Fastest Ever Time At Kitzbuhel Gets his Gondola

17th August 2022

Last modified on August 21st, 2022

The Austrian legend Fritz Strobl finally has the ceremonial handover of his cabin. The fastest race winner had a ceremony on the day the latest racer winner also received his gondola.

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Fritz Strobl, from the province of Carinthia, had his first victory in 1997, yet it has taken until now for the official ceremony to happen.

Every winner of the famous race gets a gondola named after them in honour of their victory.

The names of skiing royalty adorn the famous red gondolas.

Kitzbuhel gondolas. Image © PlanetSKI

Strobl also won in 2000 and he has often ridden in the gondola named after him, but the ceremony had not quite worked out – until now.

“Today was a huge surprise for me, which my wife Bettina planned together with the cable car operators and Ski Club. I am very touched and proud, even 25 years on after my first victory here,” he said

His winning time from 1997 of 1:51,58 remains unbeaten to this day.

“You are an ambassador for us and play a huge role in publicising just how beautiful our ski area is. You are a colleague and friend for us, for which we would just like to say thank you!” said Anton Bodner from the Kitzbuhel lift company.

Also attending a ceremony was the latest winner of the race, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde from Norway.

He won on 21st January 2022.

Last season GB’s Dave Ryding won the slalom in Kitzbuhel.

And later received his gondola.