The Saslong ski slope was built in 1968 for the 1970 Alpine Ski World Championships, hosted in Val Gardena, and is today regarded as one of the classic men's downhill ski races.
Since 2002, in addition to the downhill races, the Saslong has also hosted SuperG.
Over the years, all the greatest downhill skiers have won on this track, Peter Müller, Franz Klammer, Pirmin Zurbriggen and Kristian Ghedina. And on 13th December 1981, Britains Konrad Bartelski finished second here, the best ever finish by a British downhill racer.
Watch Konrad Bartelski
The Race - • Konrad Bartelski Val G...
Konrad re-visits the Saslong - • Britains Best Skier: I...
The Saslong Course
The course starts from at 2,249 meters just below Ciampinoi and finishes, 3.446 meters alter in Santa Cristina in the heart of the Val Gardena, with a vertical drop of 839 meters. The average overall gradient is 24% and a maximum of 56.9% at the very start of the course.
From the start gate, the steep gradient accelerates the skiers towards the Spinel jump and the steepest part of the Saslong at 56.9%. The following compression and slight uphill lead to the Saut dl Moro and the Looping jump, which has been scaled down due to some dangerous accidents. Then about 500 meters on a shallow gradient slope, often decisive in determining the race outcome and which leads to the Sochers jump.
The following left-right-left combination leads to the Sochers walls at 55.95%. Here the competitors accelerate off the wall achieving top speeds of around 130 kpm ready for the most famous and spectacular feature of the Saslong course: the "Camel Humps”. This series of three bumps often see competitors ‘fly’ over 60 meters.
Onwards to "Curva del Lago" ‘the ‘Lake curve’ the course leads to the entrance of the "Prati di Ciaslat", four very demanding curves in rapid succession each with a differing undulation.
To finish you reach the jump ‘Nucia’ and the ultimate glide and the final "jump of the tunnel" and the final schuss as you pass the Gardena Castle.
Downhill Statistics
Start 2,249m ASL
Finish 1,410m ASL
Difference in altitude 839m
Length 3,446 m
Slope max 56.9%
Average slope 24.5%
Gradient min 11.2%
Super Giant
Start 2,000m ASL
Finish 1.410m ASL
Difference in altitude 590m
Length 2,365 m
Slope max 56.9%
Average slope 24.9%
Gradient min 11.4%