“Krone” self-experiment – Bare ice: That’s how brutal the Schladminger Planai is

The ski tips protrude over the starting edge, I dare to take a first look at the famous finish slope of the Planai. There, the light from the headlights is reflected on the bare ice of the slope with a maximum gradient of no less than 52 percent. At the latest when I imagine 40,000 ski fanatics accompanying me at the top of my voice, my knees start to shake.

“Swings Impossible”
The gates have not yet been set – it seems impossible for a normal skier that a turn is possible there at all. “Now only sliding is allowed,” explains race director Manfred Steiner to my happiness.

Because the track is already prepared for the slalom race – thanks to the helpers scattered all over the slope: gliders on skis with shovels, a group with crampons who spray water into the pores of the track with a hose or snowplow drivers – a workers’ government has his hands full taming the fresh masses of snow. Because: According to Steiner, the Planai should present itself as “compact, ice-cold and flexible”.

When the edges lose their grip
Although we only use the berm, the chatter of my skis, constantly bouncing up and down, gives me a rough idea of ​​how hard the slope is below me and what forces are at work here. It means tensing your muscles and maximum concentration.

We come to the steepest point: “Use the edges well”, is the advice of the course director, “otherwise you will slide to the finish”. Brief shock moments are inevitable: time after time, the edges don’t grab.

Finally safely at the finish
In the last pass, run the skis back to the finish. Just achieving it feels like a win. Even if a ten minute “travel time” probably won’t be enough for victory.