Description

Considered one of the toughest runs on the FIS Ski World Cup tour, the Lauberhorn Run is an awe inspiring example of downhill skiing in its purest form.

Although it takes the professionals just 2 and a half minutes to descend the 4.5 km from 2315 m to 1287 m, expect to take at least ten minutes in a leg and lung busting run.

The course begins just to the side of the Wixi chairlift top station, but should you need a stiffening drink then stop in at the Start-Hut Bar, which plays live music and always has a good atmosphere.

It also worth noting that throughout the run at the famous sections of the course there are information boards which give some background and history of the Lauberhorn.

At the start there is the opportunity to go through the Start Hut and down the starting ramp to do a timed Giant Slalom run on the top section.

This first pitch then takes a sharp right past some very imposing looking safety netting before you go over the Russi Sprung, named after legendary Swiss racer Bernhard Russi (although you are unlikely to jump this like the pros).

You then pass a snowmaking reservoir on your right and take in the 'Traversenschuss', a long angled section that allows you to build up some speed before a long right hander takes you to the most imposing section of the run, the Hundschopf.

To the untrained eye, the Hundschopf may look like a narrow gap in the rock that is difficult to negotiate in order to open up the rest of the run, but the professionals fling themselves straight off it carrying up to 50 m with their jumps! You must take care here and in no way try and emulate the pros, it is narrow and often difficult to negotiate.

The piste then opens up before the sharp right hand turn 'Canadian Corner' takes you onto the 'Alpweg' which is little more than a cat track but has racers hurtling down it at 100 km/h.

You then take in the Kernen S, a very tight S-bend made famous by Interlaken born Bruno Kernen's failure to negotiate it in 1997 when he had a clear lead (although he did manage to finally win in 2003).

Having cleared the S, you take a steep section under the railway line before coming out onto a long flatter section (rated blue) by the Bumps T-Bar.

This offers great early morning carving turns for a good distance before you bear left to go over a bridge and take in another great section of the run, the Hanneggs-Schuss.

On the right-hand side there is a fenced off area, the Lauberhorn Live, where you can get your speed measured down this steep section.

Iin 2013, Johan Clarey reached 100 mph here and yet still did not win the race! This then opens out into another flatter section, where more long turns can be had if your legs are still functioning! At the site of the Silberhornsprung look up for a view of the perfect snowy peak of the Silberhorn if your legs are in need of a rest! Then continue to the Finish S, which can become very rutted at the end of the day, before diving down into the Finish area which has a short steep pitch and can get mogulled late in the day.

Then ride up the Innerwengen chairlift and give your legs a much needed rest.

The whole route has snowmaking on however, in the weeks leading up to the mid-January World Cup Race, it is often closed for preparation purposes so it is usually best tackled later in the season.

Although marked as a black, intermediates should be able to negotiate it with caution as there are very few truly steep sections, but watch out for people bombing around trying to impersonate the professionals.

Due to the layout of the Wengen pistes it can become very crowded and cut up late in the day, so attempt it in the morning to get the run at its best or if you want a less crowded run.

This run is a must do in Wengen.