How do past Winners view the Saslong?
Saslong started careers and unfortunately also ended a few, there are racers who love it and those who thread it, racers who like to fly and those, who rather play it safe. We have not yet met anyone who didn’t show strong feelings when it comes to the Salsong. Here is what some of the past winners had to say:
“It was the strongest emotional moment in my sporting life, a luck victory, because I started as a young up-and-coming racer.” (Bernhard Russi on his 1970 Downhill World Championship victory)
“I was totally ruled by fear. It was the uncertainty as to whether I would make it, or, instead, have to collect my bones in a yard-sale.” (Uli Spieß on the first to jump over the Camel Humps)
“The track wasn’t very technical, but extremely fast. The average speed was 107 km/h.” (Jean Daniel Dätwyler, winner of World Cup debut in 1969).
“ I have always been too afraid to jump over the Camel Humps. My thing has always been the Ciaslat meadow, where it took great stability not to be thrown about.” (Franz Klammer, one of two two record victory holders on the Saslong)
“The Saslong is so beautiful because technical sections alternate with very fast passages.” (Kristian Ghedina, the other record victory holders on the Saslong)
“Today, the Saslong is a very beautiful track. It is one of the most difficult and selective in the World Cup.” (Karl Schranz, fourth ranked in Downhill, and 1970 Giant Slalom World Champion in Val Gardena/Gröden)
“Camel Humps and Ciaslat are notorious and extremely dreaded in the World Cup. Nobody who has raced here will ever forget it.” (Michael Walchhofer, double victory in Downhill and Super-G on the Saslong)
