Austria's Famous Downhill Ski Race.

The Hahnenkamm Race in Kitzbuehel...unbelievably exciting.

First off, try and watch this race online or on TV. Roku HD Streaming Player It is one of the most nail-biting sports genres to watch. Even for those who like to watch scantily clad sportsmen compete ( rugby players, soccer players,swimmers ) in their field, this won't disappoint as the skiers for some reason are clad in a bodysuit resembling, eh....nothing!

For this winter sport, the aim is to get from A to B. A, being almost on top of the mountain and B being almost at the bottom. In between there is a course that can only be described as breathtakingly scary. Curves are put on impossible steep terrain and the piste is mostly icy.

Television being as advanced as it is, watching it you can hear the ice crack and moan under their skis. By the way, skis that are waxed to perfection. The faster the better. Average speed for the course is 106 kmph. Average meaning that at times they go even faster. Going that speed in your car on the highway and on a straight road is scary enough, but imagine gliding down a hill at that speed... on waxed skis and dressed in next to nothing ! Taking a sharp 90 Degree corner just up's the level of adrenalin for us viewers.

These men are a joy to watch and to admire. They seem to be fearless ( or just used to hiding that fear ) when they jauntily traverse this difficult piste. Many a times either Bob or I, watching it, hold up a hand before our eyes, in fear !

Bob always jokes, that he could easily do it, but with one condition. He wants his bodysuit to be different. All the skiers wear whitish ones. Not my Bob, he wants a very dark brown one . His thinking is that should he become scared " .... ", no one will notice !

One of the channels that broadcast it is ARD Television- they do have online viewing. The start is at about 11.15 CET. Watching it as a rerun is also worth it.

Biggi