58. Rope race in Hochfügen

Updated 04.04.2023

Hochfügen traditionally ends the winter season this year as well: at the legendary rope race, skiers complete the giant slalom on the Waidoffen 11 piste in teams of three. With live music and an extensive supporting programme, the cold season will be bid a final farewell on the afternoon of 16 April.

Since the mid-60s, winter sports enthusiasts have traditionally ended their season in Hochfügen in threes: "Ending the season without our legendary rope race would be like the Zillertal without winter sports. Simply unthinkable!", says Helmuth Grünbacher, managing director of the Hochfügen ski lift company. After last season's 71 participating rope teams proved that the tradition is still alive, the number of starters at the 58th edition is set to top this figure.

Race start at 9:30 a.m.Therace day begins at 8:00 a.m. with the distribution of start numbers at the valley station of the 8erJet gondola. The first race starts at 9:30 a.m. on the Waidoffen 11 piste: "Traditionally, the kids make the first tracks in the Hochfügen snow. The kids' rope teams also consist of three skiers connected by a rope who master the giant slalom course," explains Manfred Pfister, Managing Director of the Fügen-Kaltenbach holiday region in the Zillertal. Only in the race class, which starts at 10:30 a.m., must at least one woman be part of the rope team. The final race is the "Flotte 3er" - a fun race with motley teams.

Best atmosphere guaranteedTherope race is an annual experience for all generations: Away from the race course, the extensive supporting programme starts at 11:00 am. In addition to a colourful children's programme with face painting and a creative workshop, those present can look forward to a U1 musicians' afternoon. Die Fetzig'n aus dem Zillertal", the "Lumpen Mander", the Niederbacher siblings, "Der Grenzgängersound aus dem Zillertal" and "Höllawind" will play live on the 8er-Alm. Finally, the winter burning traditionally bids farewell to the cold season. At around 5 p.m. the last gondola will take spectators and participants back to the valley station, where the night owl bus will take them back to Fügen.

Registrations for the rope race are still possible until 14 April 2023 at 2 p.m. and can be submitted online at https://www.hochfuegenski.com/live-aktuelles/veranstaltungen/seilrennen/. The entry fee of 35 euros per adult rope team goes directly to theWSV Fügen and WSV Buch youth development programme. Pedestrians will be transported to the 8er-Alm free of charge.

Further information about the Hochfügen ski area at www.hochfuegenski.com