It's dark, it's cold, and we stay in one place for hours. Summary like that, it does not envy. But Tuesday, January 29 in the evening, the Austrian ski resort of Schladming will still scream for its slalomers. The busiest Alpine Skiing World Cup event of the year with Kitzbühel, with more than 40,000 spectators expected on its slopes, also has the hottest atmosphere on the circuit. Explanations of Schladming madness.
Sorry for the cliché, but it must be said: Austria is THE country of alpine skiing, where the news of champions is scrutinized very closely by the media and the general public. OK fine. But why is it more hectic in this city in the center of the country than on other tests contested in Austria, like in Kitzbühel, last weekend?
Because the audience is hot
“Kitz is Mecca. The station is upscale, it's an audience of connoisseurs. There is respect, analyzes the French skier Jean-Baptiste Grange. In Schladming, it's in town, it's more popular. "The spirits can get a little warm. There is a Tour de France side with a large audience that waits for hours for the passage of its champions, ”notes Jean-Pierre Vidal, Olympic slalom champion in 2002.
And who, sometimes, tries to destabilize the rivals of the Austrians. Sometimes by lighting smoke bombs before the departure of a competitor. Or, as in 2018, by throwing snowballs towards the Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen, then great rival of the local star, Marcel Hirscher. Who had not hidden his anger at the finish of the race.
Henrik Kristoffersen furious after being hit by two snowballs during the Schladming slalom! Behind, Marcel Hirscher also deprived him of the victory ... pic.twitter.com/ZbI7ar8cEy
- Eurosport.fr (@Eurosport_FR) January 23, 2018“It remains a good child overall, says Maurice Adrait, former emblematic coach of the Blues. Out of 40,000 people, there will always be four or five people who will have fun doing this kind of thing. "They are not systematically against foreigners," says Vidal. In 2002, I finished second and the audience was great with me. "
Because the place is suitable
In front of. To the right. To the left. In Schladming, supporters almost surround the skiers, where they are only forced to push from the finish area in many other World Cup events. Julien Lizeroux, old backpacker of the Blues testifies: “The crowd, you feel it, you hear it. It is very close ”. Jean-Baptiste Grange, marked by the atmosphere: “It's a public in fusion, on the verge of explosion. People are yelling at you. Especially before the start, while you are warming up ... You are trying to prepare yourself, you say to yourself " Good, good ".
In Schladming, the public climbs to the top via steps arranged in the slope. From the middle of the afternoon, the skiers see the crowd begin to congregate along the slopes. "It's a cauldron, it's the place that reminds me the most of a football stadium," says Vidal.
"The strength of Schladming is that you see two thirds of the route from almost anywhere," continues Maurice Adrait. It is well done so that everyone can benefit from the race. And can give voice all along. "
Because the show is more intense at night
Forget the first sleeves analyzed just a few minutes after having eaten Sunday breakfast. The organizers of this Austrian stage bet on a night slalom. This Tuesday, we warm up with a first round at 5:45 pm. Before a second act which starts at 8:45 p.m., pushed by thousands of people who are often well hydrated after hours of lifting their elbows.
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"Everything is done to party in this city, describes Jean-Pierre Vidal. There are refreshment bars everywhere, the supporters have something to keep busy. "I have known evenings where it could be −20 ° C, describes Adrait. But, between the proximity of people and all they can drink, the cold is quickly forgotten. "
But if the public is reputed to get off of furious swags of local beer, sportspeople also take advantage of the many bars in the area. Especially since the race marks a break for part of the skiers after a month of January marked by six slaloms. Many buddies of pros go down for miles to come here to enjoy the evening. And no matter how much we revived our interlocutors, Schladming jealously keeps part of its secrets.