Archive 2024

Simbo-Production: Downhill

^{Press release, 27/01/2024 17:29 CET}

Good weather played into the hands of the 80th International Inferno Races: After heavy rainfall, the legendary Inferno Downhill was held in glorious sunshine on Saturday, 27 January 2024. Tyrolean Alexander Zöschg took advantage of the fast race piste. In the women's race, 18-year-old Arianne Wenger from Diemtigtal shone.
 

Nothing, apart from a glance at the weather forecast, suggested on the evening before that the 80th International Inferno Downhill on 27 January 2024 in Mürren would be blessed with glorious weather. It rained until the early evening hours up to Birg station at 2677 metres above sea level. But then the cloud cover quickly cleared, giving the race organisers a clear, cold night for the final extensive work along the course. "The race track was in almost perfect condition in the morning," confirms Christoph Egger, OC President of the Inferno Races. "We were 100 per cent lucky with the weather this week!"
Last year's runner-up Alexander Zöschg from Tyrol was able to master the fast piste best. With a time of 6:37;27, he missed the record on the Kleine Schilthorn - Winteregg course by just three tenths of a second. Zöschg already emerged victorious in the 2022 Inferno Downhill. Last year's winner Kilian Rufener from Zweisimmen came second. Local hero Kevin Amacker from Grindelwald came in third.
 

Young skier at the top of the women's race

The women's race was won by 18-year-old Arianne Wenger from Zwischenflüh. With a best time of 7:36.01, she crossed the finish line four seconds ahead of second-placed Tanja Brawand from Grindelwald. Third-placed Natalie Hauswirth is also from the Bernese Oberland. The Gstaad native won the Inferno giant slalom on Thursday and is therefore a hot contender for the 39th overall Inferno super-combined victory. The results of the combined will follow in the evening hours.
 

Loyal helpers make the Inferno races possible at all

The overall assessment of the 80th edition of the Inferno Downhill is positive: "Despite the fast and tough conditions, there were no serious accidents," says Egger, looking back on the downhill. Of the 1688 racers who actually started, 1673 were classified. "It's not least thanks to our loyal helpers, who actively and passionately ensure that everything runs smoothly and is perfectly organised every year," concludes the OC President. Around 250 - 300 helpers are needed every year for a wide variety of tasks to ensure that the Inferno Week can take place.

Results

^{Press release, 25/01/2024 14:40 CET}

The giant slalom on the second day of the 80th International Inferno Races was dominated by racers from the Bernese Oberland. The piste conditions were much better than expected due to the high temperatures.

As with the night cross-country race the day before, the warm temperatures also dominated the giant slalom of the Inferno Super Combined on 25 January 2024. Nevertheless, the conditions were far better than expected: "The night was colder and the snow was therefore harder than expected in the morning," confirms Christoph Egger, OC President of the International Inferno Races. "The piste held up very well and was not much different to when conditions are good," continues Egger. A total of 319 racers set off at 10 a.m. on the original course between the Maulerhubel and Winteregg. 309 of them were able to finish the race. There were no notable incidents.
 

No surprises in the women's race

As in previous years, the Hauswirth siblings were among the front runners in the women's race. Last year's giant slalom winner Natalie Hauswirth finished her race with a best time of 1.33;32 - two seconds ahead of her sister Tanya. Lara Stern from Därligen came third. The men's podium is also in Bernese Oberland hands: Kilian Burri from Boltig crossed the finish line with a time of 1.30;58, closely followed by 20-year-old Joel Jaggi from Unterseen and Rolf von Grünigen from Schönried.
 

The Inferno Downhill awaits on Saturday

The combined skiers will be fighting for a top place in the overall super combined ranking at the legendary 80th Inferno Downhill next Saturday, 27 January 2024. This is made up of the results of the three Inferno competitions: cross-country, giant slalom and downhill.

Results

^{Press release – 24 January 2024, 20:36 CET}

Unusually high temperatures characterised the start of the 80^th International Inferno Races in Mürren. As in the previous year, the course of the cross-country skiing competition had to be moved to the Allmendhubel due to the snow. Only at the top of the competition there were no changes compared to previous years.
 

Heavy rain on Monday evening and warm temperatures in the middle of the week made the planned cross-country race of the 80^th International Inferno Races from 24 - 27 January 2024 in Mürren impossible. Therefore, for the second time in a row, the Allmendhubel venue above Mürren had to be used at short notice. But unlike last year, the 330 participants who started the 39th Inferno Super Combination had to complete three laps of around 1200 metres each instead of two. The course was still somewhat shorter than its original counterpart in Mürren, with two intense climbs, but the altitude at 1907 metres above sea level should not be underestimated. A little rain shortly before the start of the race at 4.30 pm meant that the snow on the trail was wet and heavy. This resulted in a number of falls and participants marked by the exertions.
 

No surprises at the top
With a winning time of 8 minutes and 45 seconds, multiple Inferno cross-country skiing winner Oliver Zurbrügg from Lauterbrunnen clearly beat second-placed Patrick Zürcher from Oey in Diemtigtal by 28 seconds. Third place went to Sebastian Köbke from Germany. There were no surprises at the top of the women's race either: Judith Graf also won by a clear margin of over a minute ahead of Tanja Hauswirth from Gstaad and Madlaina Fliri from Graubünden, who came third just a few hundredths of a second behind. The 52-year-old Graf from Matten has dominated the Inferno cross-country race for many years.
 

Outlook for the rest of the Inferno week
On Thursday morning, 25 January 2024, the giant slalom will take place on the Winteregg, followed by the Inferno downhill from the Kleine Schilthorn with the finish on the Winteregg on Saturday. All three completed races count towards the Inferno Super Combination. A maximum of 500 participants can register each year to compete for overall victory. In addition to the sporting activities, socialising should not be neglected during the Inferno week: The party will start in the festival restaurant in the Alpine Sports Centre in Mürren, especially on Friday and Saturday. This time the German party band Blaumeisen, who delight countless pop fans every year with their atmospheric party sound, will be heating things up. The announced show act Tim Toupet had to cancel his appearance at short notice due to a TV show in Germany.

Results

^{Press release - 19 October 2023 09:30}

The 80^th International Inferno Races from 24 - 27 January 2024 in Mürren are sold out.
In addition to the usual sporty race programme, this edition will feature two well-known party performers: The German band Blaumeisen will join forces with party hit singer Tim Toupet to create an exuberant atmosphere.
 

The 80^th International Inferno Races in January 2024 are sold out. As in previous years, around 2200 registrations were received for the limited 1850 starting places. A look at the registrations shows that numerous former top racers will be battling for the top places in the legendary Inferno Downhill. With two victories to her name, Nadine Züger-Mächler is in pole position. Siblings Natalie and Tanya Hauswirth from Gstaad, the runners-up from 2022 and 2023, and last year's third-placed Ariane Wenger will also be at the start. There is also an exciting starting position for the men: last year's winner Kilian Rufener from Zweisimmen, 2022 winner Alexander Zöschg from South Tyrol, local hero Ruedi Brawand (2020 winner and last year's runner-up), three-time downhill winner Matthias Salzmann from Naters and the 2016 (Brian Brog, Meiringen) and 2015 (Felix Tschümperlin, Schwyz) winners have all signed up. Salzmann will also ensure an exciting continuation of long-standing duels in the Inferno super combined: the four-time winner will be battling against last year's German winner Björn Buhl and six-time winner Oliver Zurbrügg from Lauterbrunnen for the coveted first places.
 

Special party highlights for the 80th edition

The four-day Inferno programme will be similar to previous years: With the night cross-country skiing in Mürren, the giant slalom XL on the Winteregg and the traditional Inferno downhill from the small Schilthorn, the 80th edition will not be without the event's mainstays. However, this edition will stand out with two special party highlights: The Blaumeisen, one of the best party bands in the German-speaking world, will be providing an exuberant atmosphere on Friday and Saturday evening.