Schladming - Anniversary Of The Legendary Night Slalom, Retirement Of Boss Hans Grogl

It will be a farewell just in time for the anniversary: Tomorrow (Tuesday) the 25th edition of the legendary "Nightrace" will take place on the Schladming Planai. For the last time the OC chief of the men's slalom on the floodlit slope will be Hans Grogl. After a quarter of a century, the 68-year-old is resigning from his position as chairman of the local winter sports club WSV Schladming as well as his position as head of the organizing committee for the night slalom. Due to the current Covid situation, only 1,000 spectators are allowed to attend the race this time. The first run starts at 5:45 p.m., the second at 8:45 p.m.

The night race on the Planai has shaped Hans Grogl's life since 1997, and he wants to devote more time to his family in the future. The man from Schladming is enthusiastic about the development of the event: "25 years ago nobody could have imagined that a slalom in January - during the week, and in the evening at that - would work. Many told us at the time that we would fail with the project. Today, the night slalom has become one of the most important races in the ski circuit and it is impossible to imagine the World Cup calendar without it.”

Grogl's successor as WSV chairman and as OC boss of the night slalom has not yet been determined, the general assembly of the association is on the agenda in June. “In any case, I will be able to place my functions in competent hands. We have built up a young, motivated team in recent years, so I'm not worried at all about the future of the race," says the outgoing Nightrace boss in farewell.

Once a year, Schladming becomes the scene of what is probably the most spectacular ski race in the World Cup winter. With this excitement, this feeling and these curves, THE Nightrace can no longer be imagined in the World Cup.

Even if the Planai Stadium, known as the "Witches' Cauldron", is a little quieter again this year, you can practically hear the usual cheers when the first athlete throws himself out of the starting house onto the floodlit slope. Here skiers, service team and ski fans alike turn night into day - you should not miss this!

Tuesday, January 25th