Records and prize money for 2025 at a glance

The Lauberhorn track is not only the longest in the World Cup, it is also one of the most famous race courses in the world, along with the Streif in Kitzbühel. A victory on the original track is a huge prestigious achievement. But that doesn’t bring in a lot of winnings. A victory is rewarded with 47,000 francs. This is nothing more than what is required by the international ski association FIS.

The record time for the original Lauberhorn descent is still held by Italian Kristian Ghedina, who completed the course in 2:24.23 minutes in 1997 at an average speed of 106.33 km/h. This time will likely never be beaten again, as the course has been de-escalated due to safety measures, making it “slower” and longer.

Yes, the World Cup speed record was also set at the Lauberhorn. Frenchman Johan Clarey reached 161.9 km/h in the Hanneggschuss in 2013!

33 years ago there was a fatal accident at the Lauberhorn: the Austrian Gernot Reinstadler got stuck and fell at the S finish during the qualification which took place at that time. He flew into the safety net, but one of his ski tips accidentally got caught in the net. As a result, Reinstadler suffered a fractured pelvis and suffered serious injuries to the blood vessels in his abdomen.

Reinstadler died of his injuries in hospital a few hours later. “During the fall, the right leg was almost torn off, leading to serious fractures and nerve and vascular damage,” the anesthesia department of Interlaken Hospital said at the time. The race was canceled after the death. The target jump was then defused.

It’s one of the greatest sensations of modern times: Niels Hintermann won the combined at Wengen 2017, Friday January 13. This after the Zurich native completed a solid slalom course. Due to uncertain weather conditions, the technical discipline was completed first, then the descent. Hintermann was lucky and was able to tackle the shortened descent in good weather. Shortly after his run, it started snowing and the slope got slower and slower. The pilots failed one after the other because of Hintermann’s time. He therefore won the race with starting number 51. Hintermann will not be at the start this year. He missed the season due to cancer.

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