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The Organizing Committee of the Lauberhorn
Races in Wengen, one of the foremost
traditional Alpine Ski “Classics”,
celebrated in a wonderful way its
75 years of existence.
The Swiss competition, launched in
1930 par Ski Pioneer Arnold Lunn and
some British friends from the DOC
– the “Downhill Only Club”
– is considered as one of the
greatest races by the competitors
who profoundly enjoy gliding on the
longest downhill course used each
year on the World Cup tour. Each time,
they are deeply charmed and impressed
by the extraordinary landscape which
surrounds the slopes and the breath-taking
mountain-peaks of the Eiger, the Mönsch
and the Junfgrau which culminates
at more than 4’000 meters.
The guests and former winners invited
this past weekend to Wengen appreciated
even more than before the beauty of
the scene while walking down the legendary
Lauberhorn course and playing golf.
Great champions from the past as four-time
winner Toni Sailer, also a triple
Olympic Champion in 1956, Karl Molterer,
Karl Schranz who won the downhill
three times, as well as all the recent
Swiss World Champion – Bernhard
Russi, Peter Mueller, Urs Lehman,
Franz Heinzer and Bruno Kernen, winner
here in 2003 – attended that
friendly yet demanding competition.
Also playing where two North-American
Legends – Canada’s Dave
Irwin, who suffered a serious crash
here in 1976, and USA’s Billy
Johnson, the surprising winner here
in 1984 before clinching Olympic Gold
in Sarajevo.
It was quite emotional to see these
two fine champions playing great golf
down the Lauberhorn course –
winning both special prices as the
longest drive for Billy D. who shot
once his ball at 220 meters.
Skiers and great golfers
These two great athletes suffered
a terrible concussion a few years
ago after crashing violently while
skiing.
Billy, who gave up ski racing in the
late 1980’s, was attempting to
re-qualify for the US Ski Team in
the early 1990’s when he badly
fell in a Nor-Am race. He remained
for a long time in a coma and his
life was in great danger for several
weeks.
Fortunately, the surgeons and doctors
who took care of him did a marvelous
job and saved him. Bill lost most
of his memory, yet he can live an
almost normal life with the support
of his friends and his mother. He
skis again and his golfing is excellent
too.
Dave Irwin was also unconscious and
in bad shape for a while after his
accident, but he is slowly recovering
pieces of his memory. Helped by his
wife Lindh, Dave works hard now to
help other people also suffering from
brain damages.
Both champions were invited to Wengen
to receive a special prize from former
Italian ski racer Erwin Stricker,
one of the driving forces behind an
organization created many years ago
to help injured athletes.
Stricker’s association also supported
by F.I.S., gave two check of 40’000.-
US $ to each of these former top-athletes.
Switzerland’s Bernhard Russi,
the 1972 Olympic Champion and famous
now for his remarkable work as Olympic
downhill designer (Calgary, Lillehammer,
Val d’Isère, Nagano) was
also awarded some checks to have won
the golf tournament, but he decided
to pass them on to his own organization
named Sapporo which also helps former
champions in difficulty.
A German book relating the story of
the Lauberhorn races was also presented
at that occasion – it’s
rightly named “Lauberhorn, the
Story of a Myth”!
An incredible journey
The golf tournament and the colorful
prize-giving ceremony were surely
exciting, but even more amazing for
the visitors was the trip that the
“Jungfraubahn”, the train
company which brings the tourists
to Wengen and the departure of the
slopes from Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald,
put together the next day. They were
invited to visit the world famous
Jungfrauhoch, a refuge situated high
above the valley which also belong
to the “World Wonders” protected
by Unesco thanks to the help of the
now late Andrea Cova.
The journey up to the summit is really
amazing and it’s not a surprise
that hundred of thousands of foreign
tourists, mostly from Asia, dedicate
a day to visit that remarkable place.
Many of the champions who gather there
had not time to visit it in the winter
during the races. So they were all
glad to have the opportunity to discover
it this time at such a special occasion.
“It was a great party for us
– we will always remember it”
commented Sailer. “The mountains
are so nice in the summertime, especially
here!”
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