Ski Legends Turn Out to Honour Klammer
7th December 2023 | Jane Peel, Bad Klenkirchheim
Last modified on December 11th, 2023
More than 30 skiing legends have gathered in the Austrian resort of Bad Kleinkirchheim to join in the 70th birthday celebrations for one of the greatest downhill racers of all time, Franz Klammer. They took part in a race with a difference and PlanetSKI was slopeside.
It reads like a Who’s Who of world skiing across the decades.
Michaela Dorfmeister, Patrick Ortlieb, Ivica Kostelic, Leonhard Stock, Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Bernhard Russi, Matthias Mayer…
These are just a handful of the greats in town this week for a very special occasion.
It’s impossible for anyone present – PlanetSKI included – to be here and not be in awe of the talent all around us.
Annemarie Moser-Pröll & PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel with Matthias Mayer. Image © PlanetSKI
Franz Klammer turned 70 years old a few days ago and these legends all wanted to celebrate with him in the Carinthian resort 25km from his home town and where he first skied as an 8-year-old.
He went on to take 25 World Cup victories in the downhill and five titles in the downhill discipline ranking.
He was Austria’s Athlete of the Year three times.
The legends gathered in BKK are not just here for a party.
They’ve had to work for their invitations, taking part in a race like none they experienced in their World Cup and Olympic careers.
A giant slalom with a difference.
The winner would not be the fastest skier but the one who set the time closest to that of the first skier out of the gates.
And that first skier was Franz Klammer, of course.
The Kaiser didn’t go quite like the rocket those of us around in the late 1970s recall.
So, the speedier (AKA younger) racers used tactics to determine how fast or slow they should go.
Some even slowed down as they were about to cross the finish line.
It was just a bit of fun but, if you’re interested, the winner was Patrick Ortlieb.
Franz Klammer with the podium at his 70th birthday race. L-R Jure Kosir, FK, Patrick Ortlieb, Armin Assinger. Image © Egon Rutter/Aufgeschnappt
The event also revived one of the greatest rivalries in alpine racing.
Switzerland’s Bernhard Russi was the defending Men’s Downhill Olympic Champion and leading the race in the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck until Klammer flew down the course and snatched the gold.
The pair raced together again today.
Franz Klammer & Bernhard Russi. Image © PlanetSKI
At a press conference before Thursday’s race, Klammer said he was on a high when he went into the starting gate at Innsbruck.
“Crash or win, second place was not on my mind,” he said.
“I was fortunate to beat Bernhard.
“It started a great, great friendship and I think that is the greatest thing in sport – to be a competitor and friend…. but now we ski just for fun.”
Russi said he had wanted to win in Innsbruck, but he also didn’t want the local Austrian favourite Klammer to lose.
“It was the greatest sports event I have seen. 60,000 people and the mountain was shaking,” Russi said.
The Race of Ski Legends was broadcast live by Austrian television and watched by a small but enthusiastic crowd.
Race of The Ski Legends. Image © PlanetSKI
The autograph hunters were out in force.
Annemarie Moser-Proll signing autographs at the Race of the Ski Legends. Image © PlanetSKI
And, once all the excitement was over, we were lucky enough to take a few turns with the Kaiser.
But before that we had a chat with him on the way up in the gondola.
It was just the one run.
This man is in demand, after all, and he has a big and swanky Gala event to prepare for tonight.
On the slopes with Franz Klammer. Image © PlanetSKI
We sense that the 70th birthday party is not over – not by a long way.
And here is THAT winning Olympic run in Innsbruck in 1976 – undoubtedly one of the best downhill races of all time.
Arguably THE best.
Race of the Legends participants. Image c/o Bad Klenkirchheim
See here for a roundup of the day:
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Happy birthday Franz – See you at your 80th!
