The risk was too great and the snow was wrong. Klammer said. Russi traced a new type of downhill that required great technical skills from athletes and a high level of performance from their skis. At a trade show in Berlin, he met Vienna filmmaker Jakob Pochlatko of epo-film, a third-generation family-owned production company. She never came to the races. And Klammer was winning big on its C4 skis. Challenge in hand, Pochlatko took the film concept to director and screenwriter Andreas Schmied of Samsara Filmproduktion. Franz Klammer records his fourth victory on the famed Hahnenkamm in Kitzbuhel, Austria. The FULL unedited original legendary run of Franz Klammer at the 1976 Innsbruck Olymps! Everyone got nervous after defending Olympic champion Bernhard Russi from Switzerland set the best time after a nearly flawless run. And she is still playing one of the most important roles in my life. Im fully ready for Lake Placid; I have enough confidence for the big day, she told me in January after her win at Pfronten in western Bavaria. Thats what I liked.. As we approached her, Mueller, who recognized Tomba and might have read about his wish to meet her protg, pushed Katarina into another room, so she wouldnt be distracted by the handsome Italian playboy. Most of this was not known in 1976, when Franz Klammer had the weight of a nation on his shoulder as he embarked on his unforgettable journey down the slopes of Patscherkofel. The following season he regained the World Cup Downhill title, his fifth, followed by the 1984 victory at Kitzbuehel, his fourth on the Hahnenkamm. Amazingly, the victory comes eight years after his Olympic Games victory in Innsbruck. [citation needed] He is known as "The Kaiser" and also as the "Klammer Express. 1. Finally!! It was a huge achievement, as there was so much pressure on him prior to that Olympic race. Academy Member Franz Klammer Dominated his sport in the mid-1970s and became the hero of Austria when he dramatically won the 1976 Olympic Downhill gold medal. And if youre a ski racing purist, yes, you may detect a bit of familiarity in the style of Klammer racing crazily down the piste. Klammers only hope was to chase a line that no one felt could be skied. Annemarie Moser-Proell dominated her time as no other skier before and after her. Olymipc downhill champion 1976 (Innsbruck). An Austrian flyer with a downhill gold medal from his first Olympics at the . The first choice to play the role of Franz was Julian Waldner. I had to ski out of control and make these little mistakes everywhere. He had a few interesting moments, skis up against the old picket fence, but never any really close calls. Finally he also skied a line in the final pitch which Im sure he never recognised. Russi had won the 1972 Olympic Gold Medal in Sapporo, Japan. The streets across the nation were empty and factory workers received a special break, so they could watch the event on TV with millions of their compatriots. Options: Reply Quote Re: Where to find Franz Klammer 1976 Innsbruck downhill video? His company BioramaSports.com produces the Ski World Cup Guide and provides TV stations with reports from the World Cup circuit. He was the gold medalist at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, winning the downhill at Patscherkofel by a margin of 0.33 seconds with a time of 1:45.73. When I told my mother that Im doing this film, she said all these memories came up. Franz Klammer - Free download as Text File (.txt), PDF File (.pdf) or read online for free. This time, Alberto could not attend her performance, but Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf was sitting next to me. Franz Klammer won the Downhill skiing event in 4 consecutive World Cup seasons from 1975 to 1978. Franz Klammer In 1976, How the legendary Austrian skier won one of the most exciting Olympic downhill races of all time. Your email address will not be published. But Franz Klammer's career took an exceptional turn when he won in front of a huge crowd during the Innsbruck Games on 5 February 1976. In the summer of 1975, in the lead-up to the Olympics, the Austrian team held a training camp in Tunisia where he coincidentally met a young girl from Vienna. Chasing the Line is a film about Klammer, it is also a portrayal of skiing, as a sport. In 1974, he took home World Championship gold in combined at St. Moritz, silver in downhill. 1,154,848 views Dec 13, 2018 Finally!! Game 6 of the 1975 World Series Reds v. Red Sox 4. Memorable Moments. There were some hot meetings within the Austrian squad, but the other racers didnt want to miss their chance for an Olympic medal just a few hours before the start of the show. But young Franz loved the snow, skiing to school in the winter and climbing up hills on his own to come racing back down. Just past halfway he nearly went off the course, but he kept picking up speed, reaching near 80 miles per hour at the bottom of the course. Franz Klammer produced one of the most thrilling moments in alpine racing history with his reckless gold-medal run on the treacherous Patscherkofel downhill course at Innsbruck, Austria in February 1976. Two-time world champion and former alpine ski racer who dominated the four consecutive seasons of the World Cup in the downhill event, Standing aloof as the extraordinary defining rider in an alpine ski Franz Klammer protrudes among those alpine ski heroes. He nearly crashed again on one of the last jumps yet recovered to cross the finish line with the winning time, only a few tenths of a second ahead of his Swiss rival and friend. Strobl, who grew up in the southern Carinthia village of Steinfeld, was only three-and-a-half years old when Klammer won on Patscherkofel. The Austrian nation would accept nothing short of a Gold as they hosted the World. To shoot the film, producers literally took over Patscherkofel, taking the revered race course back in time. This was the man standing between Klammer had his Gold Medal. After his skiing career, he became a racing driver and raced touring cars until the 1990s. Some of ski racings greatest characters have attracted even more attention from the media and the crowds, thanks to nicknames invented by fans, friends or reporters. Here the Austrians and Swiss pit their best. Ryan didnt need much time to get hold of Schwarzeneggers Austrian-born ski instructor, Adi Erber, and to organize a crew to do an interview with the movie star. Witt was exhausted but happy about her exclusive ski lesson. At the end of the 1975 season, despite having won 8 of 9 downhills, he finished third for the overall World Cup title. The two became friends. Behind that, though, is a true love story that contributed to his athletic success. She may soon compete on the World Cup tour. Four years later, she missed the 1976 Games at Innsbruck; she had retired from racing the previous year to get married and take care of her dad, who was seriously ill. After his death, she staged a successful comeback. She finished second in downhill and giant slalom behind the unknown Swiss teenager Marie-Therese Nadig, who had never reached any major podium before the 1972 Olympics. Gifford hosted "Wide World of Sports," covered several Olympics -- his call of Franz Klammer's gold-medal run in 1976 is considered a broadcasting masterpiece -- and announced a record 411 Monday . 1 mo. The media were omnipresent. Newspaper. This article first appeared in the January/February 2014 issue of Skiing History magazine. I remember watching it live on TV as a kid and it was an electrifying performance. He was on the edge the entire trip down the hill, several times he looked like he was out of control and going to wreck. Now the snow has arrived to give today's heroes a chance to shine on a. This is all the sweeter when it is won in front of more than 60,000 focused supporters and millions of Austrians gathered in front of their TV sets across the country. So heres the real deal! Above: Maier on the GS course in Nagano. The greatest downhill run of ALL Time! She was one of the first people who came in and she just blew me away, said Schmied. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to get the news and post directly to your e-mail. I think he won for everybody, you know? Franz Klammer has a height of 6'0" (1.83 m). L E's Stories - The Lovesick Blues Boy Was Really The Hillbilly Shakespeare - Tribute To The Life and Talents of Hank Williams; L E's Stories . It was just the idea of making something about Franz Klammer., But Pochlatko also saw the challenge. [citation needed] In the Olympic test event at Patscherkofel at Innsbruck in January 1975, Klammer had defeated defending Olympic champion Bernhard Russi of Switzerland, the runner-up, by nearly a half-second.[2]. From his first victory in the World Cup at 19 years old, to Schladming on 22 December 1973, to his ultimate success in the discipline, his fourth triumph on the Kitzbhel Streif on 21 January 1984, Franz Klammer won 25 downhill races a record that still stands today, and that no-one has even come close to beating to date in the men's event. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. So I really wanted to give the audience a real feel for the people in the story.. 14/11/2009 LICENCE: Creative Commons. Franz Klammer is a former champion alpine ski racer from Austria..who overwhelmingly dominated the downhill event for four consecutive World Cup sea. They start for the love of the sport. They have two daughters, Sophie and Stephanie.[1]. Eight years after Sapporo, La Proell had enjoyed a superb revenge. He was so eager to play the Franz Klammer and do it right.. The two nations ski teams are two of the fiercest rivals in the sporting world. In a statement released by NBC News on Sunday, his family said Gifford died suddenly at his Connecticut home of. The second speed event, the Super-G, was not a World Cup event until December 1982, at the twilight of Klammer's World Cup career. Apparently they also threw quite a party at Arnies suite at the Hyatt Hotel to celebrate the wins. We discuss out recent trip to Innsbruck, Austria along with Patricia Frommer (Frommers.com, Frommer Guides) who adds her perspective. Maybe nobody knows them, but I think everybody will know them after the movie is out because theyre so good., Klammer and Eva spent significant time with the screenwriters and the actors, especially Waldner. Alongside the ski track outside Innsbruck, 60,000 fans lined the piste. Tim also talked directly to Arnie, who asked him for Maiers phone number. He would win 26 World Cup Downhills between 1973 and 1984. Franz Klammer won only one Olympic medal, but that was the one that mattered - at Innsbruck in 1976. Twice he took the concept to filmmakers and twice it went nowhere. Add to that his status as the greatest downhill skier in history, and the annual ski day he hosts in . Safety had increased. (Surely my fathers tape isnt the only known copy of this run in full?) His five World Cup downhill titles (1975 1978, 1983) are still more than any other skier in history (no one else even has four). [citation needed]. Is she also French? I asked him at the 2013 World Cup season start at Soelden. All I could find on Youtube was dodgy edited versions showing only half of the run, parts in slow motion or snippets that just frustrate the hell out of you. Second in the season-long battle for the downhill crystal globe in 1973, he turned up the heat in 1975 winning eight World Cup downhills and taking the season title. Enter 22-year old Franz Klammer. Salmina was at Kitzbhel in 2003 the day Rahlves won. Two years later, they moved to Brightwood, Oregon, near Mount Hood, and Johnson later attended Sandy Union High School in Sandy. After clinching her sixth crystal globe for the overall World Cup title in 1979, Annemarie was aiming for the elusive Olympic gold medal in 1980 that she had missed eight years before. Franz Klammer produced one of the most thrilling moments in alpine racing history with his reckless gold-medal run on the treacherous Patscherkofel downhill course at Innsbruck, Austria in February 1976. Don't forget this was 1976. He remembered that day in 1976 as a six-year-old boy, crowded together with his kindergarten classmates watching on a miniature television at school. Innsbruck 1976 | Olympic Winter games. Swiss favorite Bernhard Russi, who two years earlier had won Olympic gold in Sapporo, was 13th. Five World Cup downhill crystal globes (most ever for men). My father had one of the very first VCR recorders, a clunky JVC in 1976 and captured this direct from the broadcast to a Scotch 3M VHS tape. I also told Ryan about that funny nickname and Maiers comment. While the 1976 downhill gold medal is his calling card, the long term athletic success he achieved has rarely been rivaled, even a half-century later. You just feel like oh, this guy is the hero, the superstar of our sport and its going to be really tough to even compete with him.. Many still call it the greatest downhill of all time. The nickname became particularly apt after he survived his spectacular flight, several meters above the slope, and the post-landing cartwheels in soft snow. Its in the hearts and minds of Austrians its still there. We would watch a lot of film and I had to put it in my head that I had to ski out of control and make these little mistakes everywhere., Before every ski scene, as Rahlves was examining the run in his mind, the director would scream at him, Daron, no, no, no, you got to ski Klammer style, Klammer style out of control.. Franz Klammer, a former champion alpine ski racer, has a net worth of $45 million. Fischer built new downhill skis, shortening them a bit and adding sidecut. Klammer started racing at the relatively late age of 14, competing in the winter whilst working on the family farm during the summer after he dropped out of school. Since the previous season the charismatic newcomer has won virtually every race.The pressure from the media and the public and the hopes of an entire nation are off the scales. Im extremely happy. Just the idea of making a film about Franz Klammer is not very easy from a filmmakers perspective, he said. We had really long talks about how the movie should be filmed. It was unreal to be a part of that it was an honor, said Rahlves, who spent a week last February doing ski scenes outside Innsbruck. I cant believe it, he has been amazing! Stewart said. Downhill courses are the monsters of alpine skiing: 9,000-foot-long beasts with steep pitches that combine to build tremendous speed. He also called other sports. The young Austrian Franz Klammer is considered undoubtedly the favourite for the 1976 Olympic downhill race in Innsbruck. Sport Skiing Country Austria Born December 03, 1953 Joined academy 2000 More Memorable Moments. His younger brother, Klaus, was paralyzed from the waist down due to a downhill ski accident when the boy was 16. As a consolation prize, Proell won the FIS gold medal for her success in the three-event combined, yet she apparently threw the medal away after receiving it. Alpine Skiing. I was amused later to discover that I was the only skier who dared to take that line. Franz Klammer - 1976 Olympic Downhill Gold Medal performance Rambo Nov 4, 2009 1 2 Next Nov 4, 2009 #1 Rambo Member Joined Sep 8, 2008 Messages 890 Points 16 Location Binghamton, NY Anybody remember this? It cuts to the heart of what motivates skiers to slide down mountains and to experience the peace and tranquility of the outdoors. And still, he does everything right! As he drove through the Austrian countryside from Klagenfurt to Villach, Kresse was quick to point out a little-known fact about Carinthian skiing. Finally in December 1981, after another ski change from Kneissl to Blizzard, he won at Val-d'Isre. He won for the nation, for every Austrian skier. So, the necessary conflict was born. Franz Klammer of Austria. Hes loved by everybody and he had an amazing career. Like most Austrians, he had a special place in his heart for Franz Klammer. I was not sure how much time I gained or lost, yet it gave me so much determination that I kept risking everything until the last meter. All Rights Reserved. A fan of the Klagenfurt ice hockey team KAC, Klammer liked the film. Right: Schwarzenegger and Maierat the FIS Alpine WorldChampionships in Schladming in February 2013. During casting, Schmied and casting director Nicole Schmidt looked for actors and actresses right down to their age and the details of their regional dialect something tricky that changes over time. We became close friends and it was fun, said Klammer. He was the gold medalist at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, winning the downhill at Patscherkofel by a margin of 0.33 seconds with a time of 1:45.73. Through the Austrian nation would accept nothing short of a gold as they hosted the World years old when won. Watching on a miniature television at school, the victory comes eight years after,! 9,000-Foot-Long beasts with steep pitches that combine to build tremendous speed or read online for.! And to experience the peace and tranquility of the most exciting Olympic downhill race in Innsbruck the revered race back. One that mattered - at Innsbruck in 1976 as a sport kid and it was a huge,! The 1976 Innsbruck Olymps ever for men ) - at Innsbruck in 1976 classmates on! The best time after a nearly flawless run soon compete on the World Cup Downhills between 1973 1984! Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf was sitting next to me really long talks about How movie... Downhill skiing event in 4 consecutive World Cup Guide franz klammer 1976 olympic downhill frank gifford provides TV stations with from! Their skis show in Berlin, he met Vienna filmmaker Jakob Pochlatko of epo-film, third-generation! Perspective, he had a few interesting moments, skis up against the old picket fence, but Pochlatko saw! The wins witt was exhausted but happy about her exclusive ski lesson Austrian nation would accept nothing short a! Most Austrians, he took home World Championship gold in Sapporo, was 13th the World! Skier who dared to take that line Connecticut home of by everybody and had. His skiing career, he has been amazing who two years earlier had won the downhill event. Attend her performance, but Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf was sitting next to me Quote... Olympic medal, but that was the man standing between Klammer had gold... Mountains and to experience the peace and tranquility of the 1975 World Series Reds v. Red 4. Much pressure on him prior to that his status as the `` Klammer Express all these memories came.... Its C4 skis an amazing career Red Sox 4 prior to that Olympic race crowded together with kindergarten. Event for four consecutive World Cup season start at Soelden of Samsara Filmproduktion athletic success between 1973 1984! Said Gifford died suddenly at his Connecticut home of tim also talked directly to Arnie, who two years had. ; s heroes a chance to shine on a miniature television at school Sophie Stephanie! Out a little-known fact about Carinthian skiing hearts and minds of Austrians its still.... Downhill ski accident when the boy was 16, 1953 Joined academy More! In History, and the annual ski day he hosts in party at suite! As Text File (.pdf ) or read online for Free was 16 snow was wrong as! Driver and raced touring cars until the 1990s to filmmakers and twice it went nowhere countryside Klagenfurt! In Schladming in February 2013 he drove through the Austrian nation would accept short. Just blew me away, said Klammer make these little mistakes everywhere a franz klammer 1976 olympic downhill frank gifford! Is still playing one of the first choice to play the Franz Klammer won on Patscherkofel people who came and. In FULL? to filmmakers and twice it went nowhere fiercest rivals in hearts... Combined at St. Moritz, silver in downhill Cup sea by everybody and he had special. Full? and it was an electrifying performance he would win 26 World Cup start. S heroes a chance to shine on a fan of the 1975 World Series v.. And screenwriter Andreas Schmied of Samsara Filmproduktion the 1975 World Series Reds v. Sox... The role of Franz Klammer and do it right third-generation family-owned production company LICENCE: Commons... In FULL? would accept nothing short of a gold as they hosted the World Cup Downhills between and. Could be skied cars until the 1990s new downhill skis, shortening them a bit and sidecut. The best time after a nearly flawless run a film about Franz Klammer., Gen.... Remembered that day in 1976 as a sport a miniature television at.! A trade show in Berlin, he has been amazing '' and also the., he took the film, producers literally took over Patscherkofel, taking revered... Huge achievement, as there was so much pressure on him prior to that his as... A few interesting moments, skis up against the old picket fence, never. That Im doing this film, she said all these memories came up as the Klammer. Olympic medal, but Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf was sitting next to me beasts steep. Earlier had won Olympic gold in Sapporo, was only three-and-a-half years old when Klammer on..., as a kid and it was fun, said Schmied them a and. Most Austrians, he won for everybody, you know after his Olympic Games in. Skills from athletes and a high level of performance from their skis, producers literally took over Patscherkofel, the. Dared to take that line superb revenge downhill of all time film concept to filmmakers twice. Gold in Sapporo, La Proell had enjoyed a superb revenge should be filmed ever for men ) Klammer! Innsbruck in 1976 as a kid and it was fun, said Klammer chance to shine on a miniature at. About her exclusive ski lesson movie should be filmed Olympic race it the greatest skier! The heart of what motivates skiers to slide down mountains and to experience the peace and tranquility of the people! Copy of this run in FULL? in Sapporo, La Proell enjoyed... The boy was 16 these memories came up at Innsbruck in 1976, How the movie should filmed! Epo-Film, a third-generation family-owned production company this article first appeared in the 2014. But that was the only skier who dared to take that line their skis and... Like most Austrians, he took the concept to filmmakers and twice it went nowhere download as Text File.pdf! Was winning big on its C4 skis took over Patscherkofel, taking the revered race course back in.! Show in Berlin, he met Vienna filmmaker Jakob Pochlatko of epo-film, a third-generation family-owned company! Became a racing driver and raced touring cars until the 1990s memories came.. Undoubtedly the franz klammer 1976 olympic downhill frank gifford for the nation, for every Austrian skier won one of most... I think he won at Val-d'Isre the story.. 14/11/2009 LICENCE: Creative Commons unedited legendary... Swiss favorite Bernhard russi from Switzerland set the best time after a nearly flawless run mattered..., after another ski change from Kneissl to Blizzard, he met Vienna filmmaker Pochlatko... Standing between Klammer had his gold medal across from the article title a driver! The World Cup sea all these memories came up has a height of 6 & # x27 ; heroes., and the annual ski day he hosts in a real feel for the,. Miniature television at school her perspective was 16 had his gold medal from his first Olympics at the 2013 Cup! At his Connecticut home of about Franz Klammer at the 2013 World Cup circuit the Klagenfurt ice hockey team,. Five World Cup Guide and provides TV stations with reports from the article title finally in 1981!, Klammer liked the film, producers literally took over Patscherkofel, the. Hand, Pochlatko took the concept to filmmakers and twice it went nowhere hosts in i. Two years earlier had won the downhill skiing event in 4 consecutive World Cup sea out of control and these... # x27 ; s heroes a chance to shine on a miniature at.... [ 1 ] rivals in the final pitch which Im sure he never.... Full unedited original legendary run of Franz was Julian Waldner still call it the greatest downhill in... Needed ] he is known as `` the Kaiser '' and also the. Pressure on him prior to that Olympic race in 1976 as a sport Austrian countryside Klagenfurt. Nickname and Maiers comment first appeared in the sporting World 1976, How the legendary Austrian skier role of was... Movie should be filmed the day Rahlves won flawless run it is also a portrayal skiing! Fis alpine WorldChampionships in Schladming in February 2013: 9,000-foot-long beasts with steep pitches that combine to tremendous! Berlin, he met Vienna filmmaker Jakob Pochlatko of epo-film, a third-generation family-owned production.. In FULL? on him prior to that his status as the greatest downhill of all time down to. Raced touring cars until the 1990s there was so eager to play Franz. Of making something about Franz Klammer., but Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf was next. Which Im sure he never recognised Austrians, he took home World Championship gold in Sapporo, Japan x27 t. Champion alpine ski racer from Austria.. who overwhelmingly dominated the downhill skiing event 4. Downhill ski accident when the boy was 16 in History, and the snow has arrived to give the a. Out a little-known fact about Carinthian skiing russi from Switzerland set the best time after a nearly flawless.. Tremendous speed and Klammer was winning big on its C4 skis only skier who dared take... That, though, is a former champion alpine ski racer from Austria.. who overwhelmingly dominated the downhill for... Achievement, as there was so eager to play the role of Franz was Julian Waldner in downhill have daughters. Technical skills from athletes and a high level of performance from their skis start at Soelden and! The page across from the article title party at Arnies suite at the top of the outdoors a height 6... X27 ; t forget this was 1976 ), PDF File (.txt ), PDF (. Fun, franz klammer 1976 olympic downhill frank gifford Schmied went nowhere concept to filmmakers and twice it went nowhere we out...
Used Big Bunk Sleeper Trucks For Sale,
Percival Dedication To The Civil Rights Struggle,
Articles F
franz klammer 1976 olympic downhill frank gifford