“Hornschlitten Rennen” means wooden sledge race. A “Hornschlitten” is a sledge which sports two uprising handles emerging from its runners, resembling to horns.
Since ages in alpine regions these sledges were the tool of choice to bring down wood, hay or nuriture from the mountain huts or villages into the valleys in a quick manner.
So one time one sledge driver challenged the other: “I’ll do this ascent faster than you do!” and this fabulous event was born: the Hornschlitten Rennen!!
This race is definitely fun, but in the very moment you loose control over your sledge, it gets pretty nasty.
Some friends made up one of the bold teams!
The setting right in the lovely bavarian alps was great.
This is part of the racing track.
The teams had to push their sledges uphill on the track.
The Garmisch region is an enchanted winter wonderland
Final preparation of the runners – or just a safe way to store the sledge
Though the sun was shining it was cold to the bone.
Let the fun begin!
There were several womens teams performing that daring run.
They had great fun
Always smile to the camera
Start phase
At the start you had to gain speed to reach a top time. Given you don’t crash into the boundaries lateron. Or hit a tree…
Getting on the sledge quickly is essential, too. Some teams therefore started seated with only their last man pushing.
The start area
Hop on!
Getting on while gaining speed
This is how it started, the sledges were used as transport in the snowy mountains.
Taking up speed
Jumping aboard
Beautiful landscape
Beautiful landscape II
High ridges
Kaiserwetter
Sun vs clouds
A team wearing traditional clothing instead of skiing wear. The helmets were not mandatory three years before…
Here you see the steering and breaking mechanism, some iron hooks diggin into the snow. The driver should not use them too often as this costs a lot of speed!
Holding a good course is difficult as there are many tracks and steering using the iron claws reduces your momentum…
…as does hitting the wall!
The tunnel
In full ride
The lovely alps
Full throttle
If you see alot of snow is raised, the driver breaks a lot, it may look more spectactular, but the faster teams made smaller snow storms.
Here you see the difference, less breaking, less snow.
Go for it!
Starting grid line
At the start they all became quiet. They were starting the very first time – except the driver, he knew what he signed for.
Though even him was steering for the first time!
As they had not practised the starting procedure they decided to have one guy seated already and have the others pushing.
The driver should not leave his seat before passing the finish line
The steering man probably got stuck in the snow with one foot and got pulled over!
Luckily the first man does not get run over.
Then they crash into the next tree…
Nobody got injured seriously, they jumped back on their sledge and pushed it back on the track!
Full speed
The upper part of the track
Blasting down the track
The Betty Ford Boys made it! And they were doing very good for their debut run!
Mountain top
Mountain top