The World Cup piste at the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn offers a juicy challenge for advanced skiers and boarders who want to ski in the tracks of the world’s elite. Last held at Saalbach Hinterglemm in 2015, the FIS World Cup brings together the best skiers in the world to compete for victory. The slope has also been used since then for various other ski races. With several hundred kilometres of slopes for every level of skier and snowboarder, the Skicircus is an excellent candidate for hosting this prestigious competition. Keep reading for more details about this challenging piste!
The Zwölferkogel North Run World Cup piste at the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn starts at the top station of the Zwölferkogelbahn and runs for 3.6km to Hinterglemm, for a total altitude loss of 920m. At its steepest point, this notorious slope has a gradient of 72%, almost as steep as the notorious Harakiri piste at Mayhrofen, which reaches a gradient of 78%.
World Cup piste at © Saalbach Hinterglemm
The preparation of a World Cup slope presents a unique challenge compared with a normal piste for non-professional skiers and snowboarders. Unlike a conventional piste, where it suffices to flatten the fresh snow, it is of the utmost importance that there be no dodgy layers on an FIS World Cup course. When professional ski racers are flying along at speeds of up to 140km/hr, sinking into a soft patch of snow can be a recipe for instant disaster. Therefore, to ensure that the slope is evenly prepared with no hidden layers, it is regularly treated with water. This layer of frozen ice makes the piste harder than other slopes in the Skicircus, especially around the time when the FIS World Cup is taking place at Saalbach Hinterglemm.
To prepare for the World Cup piste at Saalbach Hinterglemm, you should practise your short turns and be able to control your speed. Once there, you can choose from two options: head to the left (as seen from the Zwölferkogel) down the black World Cup piste, or opt for the right-hand side where you’ll find the red World Cup piste #13. In official races, the men usually compete on the black piste #15 while the women compete on the #13. Both pistes join up later on as piste 13A, which leads to Hinterglemm.
© Saalbach Hinterglemm/ Peter Lintner
© Saalbach Hinterglemm/ Peter Lintner
© Saalbach Hinterglemm/ Daniel Roos
The World Cup slope at the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn is a challenging piste designed for athletic skiers and snowboarders. The length and steepness are guaranteed to get your legs burning by the time you reach the bottom. But it pays off thanks to the view: from the first bend, you’ll already have a view of the entire valley. Even from the lower section, you’ll have panoramic views. Less experienced skiers can also practise their carving skills on this beautiful run. Although it’s tempting to race down as fast as you can, it’s also nice to resist the temptation to go against the clock and just enjoy the surroundings. Our rating: 5/5
Facts & Figures: The Zwölferkogel World Cup Piste |
|
|---|---|
| Lift: Zwölferkogelbahn | Length: 3600m |
| Highest point: 1980m | Elevation loss: 920m |
| Steepest gradient: 72% | Difficulty: Black |
| Tip: Enjoy the view | Rating:5 stars |
The Skicircus is one of the largest ski areas in Austria, with 270km of pistes. Although most pistes lean towards the easy-medium side, their length makes them popular with advanced skiers as well. Ambitious visitors can also attempt the Skicircus Challenge, a demanding 72km circuit that takes skiers and snowboarders through the entire Skicircus ski area. The FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships last came to Saalbach Hinterglemm in 2015 but has submitted a bid to host again in 2023. So keep your fingers crossed – you just might get to see the Zwölferkogel piste in action!
The World Cup piste at the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn offers a juicy challenge for advanced skiers and boarders who want to ski in the tracks of the world’s elite. Last held at Saalbach Hinterglemm in 2015, the FIS World Cup brings together the best skiers in the world to compete for victory. The slope has also been used since then for various other ski races. With several hundred kilometres of slopes for every level of skier and snowboarder, the Skicircus is an excellent candidate for hosting this prestigious competition. Keep reading for more details about this challenging piste!
The Zwölferkogel North Run World Cup piste at the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn starts at the top station of the Zwölferkogelbahn and runs for 3.6km to Hinterglemm, for a total altitude loss of 920m. At its steepest point, this notorious slope has a gradient of 72%, almost as steep as the notorious Harakiri piste at Mayhrofen, which reaches a gradient of 78%.
World Cup piste at © Saalbach Hinterglemm
The preparation of a World Cup slope presents a unique challenge compared with a normal piste for non-professional skiers and snowboarders. Unlike a conventional piste, where it suffices to flatten the fresh snow, it is of the utmost importance that there be no dodgy layers on an FIS World Cup course. When professional ski racers are flying along at speeds of up to 140km/hr, sinking into a soft patch of snow can be a recipe for instant disaster. Therefore, to ensure that the slope is evenly prepared with no hidden layers, it is regularly treated with water. This layer of frozen ice makes the piste harder than other slopes in the Skicircus, especially around the time when the FIS World Cup is taking place at Saalbach Hinterglemm.
To prepare for the World Cup piste at Saalbach Hinterglemm, you should practise your short turns and be able to control your speed. Once there, you can choose from two options: head to the left (as seen from the Zwölferkogel) down the black World Cup piste, or opt for the right-hand side where you’ll find the red World Cup piste #13. In official races, the men usually compete on the black piste #15 while the women compete on the #13. Both pistes join up later on as piste 13A, which leads to Hinterglemm.
© Saalbach Hinterglemm/ Peter Lintner
© Saalbach Hinterglemm/ Peter Lintner
© Saalbach Hinterglemm/ Daniel Roos
The World Cup slope at the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn is a challenging piste designed for athletic skiers and snowboarders. The length and steepness are guaranteed to get your legs burning by the time you reach the bottom. But it pays off thanks to the view: from the first bend, you’ll already have a view of the entire valley. Even from the lower section, you’ll have panoramic views. Less experienced skiers can also practise their carving skills on this beautiful run. Although it’s tempting to race down as fast as you can, it’s also nice to resist the temptation to go against the clock and just enjoy the surroundings. Our rating: 5/5
Facts & Figures: The Zwölferkogel World Cup Piste |
|
|---|---|
| Lift: Zwölferkogelbahn | Length: 3600m |
| Highest point: 1980m | Elevation loss: 920m |
| Steepest gradient: 72% | Difficulty: Black |
| Tip: Enjoy the view | Rating:5 stars |
The Skicircus is one of the largest ski areas in Austria, with 270km of pistes. Although most pistes lean towards the easy-medium side, their length makes them popular with advanced skiers as well. Ambitious visitors can also attempt the Skicircus Challenge, a demanding 72km circuit that takes skiers and snowboarders through the entire Skicircus ski area. The FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships last came to Saalbach Hinterglemm in 2015 but has submitted a bid to host again in 2023. So keep your fingers crossed – you just might get to see the Zwölferkogel piste in action!
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
