Press release Inferno 2012

A late start launches the Inferno downhill to victory

«It was a tough week. Difficult decisions had to be made. But in the end it was a great race!». That is what the race director Thomas Gertsch said on Saturday after the last racer arrived at the finish of this year's Inferno downhill. The organizers struggled not only with lots of snow but also technical problems with the railways. The fastest times were occupied by a late start numbers.

The many volunteers worked sometimes day and night on the piste preparation. On Saturday morning, the track was in good condition, their efforts had paid off. On Friday afternoon the race organizers had decided to move the start to the Allmendhubel. The weather forecasts were to expect a lot of snow and the decision proved correct on Saturday morning. The amount of snow on the upper parts of the course would not have allowed a race without exploding the avalanches before. Although the volunteers did everything to start the race on time at 08.50, the start was delayed by 30 minutes. A technical breakdown on the Allmendhubel railway which brought the racers to the start further delayed the start by an hour. At 10.15 the first skier left the starting hut.

The result list showed that the higher the start number, the better the conditions were. At times there was even sun, which improved visibility and made the course faster.

The president, Ueli Stäger was very satisfied at the end of a very long race day. He complimented the outstanding job done by all the helpers. «Without them the Inferno race would be impossible. It makes us all very happy to be able to organize such a huge event.» Next year the race will be held for the 70th time. The organization committee has decided to concentrate on a bigger celebration in 2018, when the 75th Anniversary will be celebrated.

In the men’s event Samuel Imhof (Liestal) won with the number 1602 in a time of 10.40,93. Even in 2nd and 3rd places we had two racers with high starting numbers: 2nd Toni Gilgen (Horboden), start number 755 in a time of 10.51,20 and 3rd Phillippe Dubach (Oey), start number 576 in 11.04,73.

Nadin Maechler (Vorderthal) took the women’s title with a start number 601 in a time of 11.58,91. Not quite two seconds longer was needed for the runner up Maya Rüdisüli (Amden), in 12.00,33 (race number 1672). 12.15,75 was the time taken by Nicole Baertschi (Buttisholz) in third.

The combination title was won by Judith Graf (Matten b. Interlaken) across all of the ladies categories and for the men it was Patrick Zürcher (Latterbach) on top of the podium.

The International Inferno Race in 2013 are from 23 - 26 January.