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When the lifts close in the afternoon on April 19, things really get going in the St. Anton am Arlberg ski area. It is the day of the "white rush" - the cult ski race that pushes its participants to their sporting limits every year. Even during the day, there is a crackling atmosphere in the air: a conspicuous number of skiers wear racing suits and cover up their rising nervousness with jokes in the gondola or emphatically casual faces. And then it gets serious: 555 skiers, snowboarders and telemark skiers make their way to the mass start at Vallugagrat.
The now legendary alpine ski race "Der Weisse Rausch" attracts thousands of winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world to St. Anton am Arlberg every year. Anyone can take part, but some people know from experience that this race is not for everyone. Even the right position at the mass start can save crucial seconds later on. However, the real challenge comes shortly afterwards on the "Schmerzensberg": If you rush up the 150-metre-long intermediate climb too quickly, your lungs will burn at the top. If you take it too easy, you will fall behind. The unprepared slope also requires skiing skill and dexterity. The record time for the entire route was set by Mathias Gorbach in 2017 with seven minutes and nine seconds. Since then, the aim has been to beat it. Eleven to 18 minutes, on the other hand, is a good average. However, this often plays a subordinate role towards the end of the race - because then the main thing is to make it to the finish line. Spectators can watch a few flashily dressed participants there, who only arrive calmly after half an hour. By then, at the latest, it is clear that the fun never falls by the wayside in this race.
When the lifts close in the afternoon on April 19, things really get going in the St. Anton am Arlberg ski area. It is the day of the "white rush" - the cult ski race that pushes its participants to their sporting limits every year. Even during the day, there is a crackling atmosphere in the air: a conspicuous number of skiers wear racing suits and cover up their rising nervousness with jokes in the gondola or emphatically casual faces. And then it gets serious: 555 skiers, snowboarders and telemark skiers make their way to the mass start at Vallugagrat.
The now legendary alpine ski race "Der Weisse Rausch" attracts thousands of winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world to St. Anton am Arlberg every year. Anyone can take part, but some people know from experience that this race is not for everyone. Even the right position at the mass start can save crucial seconds later on. However, the real challenge comes shortly afterwards on the "Schmerzensberg": If you rush up the 150-metre-long intermediate climb too quickly, your lungs will burn at the top. If you take it too easy, you will fall behind. The unprepared slope also requires skiing skill and dexterity. The record time for the entire route was set by Mathias Gorbach in 2017 with seven minutes and nine seconds. Since then, the aim has been to beat it. Eleven to 18 minutes, on the other hand, is a good average. However, this often plays a subordinate role towards the end of the race - because then the main thing is to make it to the finish line. Spectators can watch a few flashily dressed participants there, who only arrive calmly after half an hour. By then, at the latest, it is clear that the fun never falls by the wayside in this race.
