April 16, 2023: 58th Rope Race In Hochfugen

Hochfügen ends the winter season traditionally this year: At the legendary rope race, teams of three skiers complete the giant slalom on the Waidoffen 11 slope. With live music and an extensive supporting program, the cold season is finally said goodbye on the afternoon of April 16th.

Since the mid-1960s, winter sports enthusiasts have traditionally ended their season in Hochfügen in threes: "Ending the season without our legendary rope race would be like Zillertal without winter sports. Simply unthinkable!" says Helmuth Grünbacher, Managing Director of the ski lift company Hochfugen. After last season, with  71 participating rope teams , it was proven that the tradition is still alive, the number of starters at the 58th edition should top this number.

Race start 9:30 a.m
The race day begins at 8:00 a.m. with the start number assignment at the valley station of the 8-seater Jet gondola. The first race starts at 9:30 a.m. on the Waidoffen 11 piste: "Traditionally, the kids make their first tracks in the Hochfügen snow. The children's rope teams also consist of three skiers, who are connected with a rope and master the giant slalom course", explains Manfred Pfister, Managing Director of the holiday region of Fügen-Kaltenbach in the Zillertal. Only in the racing class, which starts at 10:30 a.m., must at least one woman be part of the rope team. At the end there is the "Flotte 3er" - a fun race with a motley mix of teams.

Best mood guaranteed
The rope race is an annual experience for all generations: Away from the race track, the extensive supporting program starts at 11:00 a.m. In addition to a colorful children's program with face painting and a creative workshop, those present can look forward to an afternoon of U1 musicians. "Die Fetzig'n aus dem Zillertal", the "Lumpen Mander", the Niederbacher siblings, "Der Grenzgängersound aus dem Zillertal" and "Höllawind" will play live at the 8er-Alm. Finally, the cold season is traditionally said goodbye with the winter cremation. Around 5:00 p.m. the last gondola takes both viewers and participants back to the valley station, where the night owl bus takes them back to Fügen.

Registrations for the rope race are still possible until April 14, 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 the promotion of young people from WSV Fügen and WSV Buch. Pedestrians are transported to the 8er Alm free of charge.

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