This is where the career of Olympic champion Franz Klammer began. The idol of many generations shares great feelings with his skiing home: from his first lift ride to his first European Cup victory.
This is where the career of Olympic champion Franz Klammer began. The idol of many generations shares great feelings with his skiing home: from his first lift ride to his first European Cup victory.
On 5th February 1976, Franz Klammer won the downhill Olymipic gold medal and became the hero of an entire nation. On that day, the streets were empty, the few colour televisions were surrounded by people and commentator Edi Finger literally screamed his heart out as Franz crossed the finishing line.
That moment went down in history – and it is now making cinema history too.
"Klammer - Chasing the Line" is hitting cinemas in time for this year’s winter season. "Es klammert und franzt" (ironically meaning to brace oneself) not just on the big screen, however, but in every corner of Bad Kleinkirchheim.
And that should come as no surprise, as the Carinthian resort is the skiing home of the successful "ski emperor", who continues to lead the global ranking of most downhill victories.
Did you know?
Franz Klammer won his first European Cup downhill run in Bad Kleinkirchheim in 1971, at that time still on the famous FIS K70. The popular "Carinthia – Franz Klammer" World Cup slope, one of the Bad Kleinkirchheim ski area’s black slopes, was then named in his honour.
We should meet. Here, where it all began. For me. In Bad Kleinkirchheim.
True to the motto "In the footsteps of Franz Klammer", it’s all about the Bad Kleinkirchheimer’s testimonial at the mountain huts too. Which Carinthian dish simply belongs to a day’s skiing in Bad Kleinkirchheim for the icon? Everyone will know the answer after a stop at a hut this winter season, as the Olympic champion is introducing his culinary favourites on the menus. With a bit of luck, you might even bump into Franz at one of your stops.
Such as at Birgit & Christian Prägant hut "Zum Sepp" on the Franz Klammer downhill run at the finish line, in Leopold “Poldl” Gruber’s "Weltcup-Poldl-Hütte" or at Sepp Pulverer’s Kaiserburg mountain restaurant, which even has its own Klammer room. And so the rustic huts take your search for Franz to the home straight – with an Olympic-worthy taste experience.
then wait until you catch sight of the legendary Fischer C4 racing skis or the race suit from back in the days. You can admire many of the props from "Klammer - Chasing the Line" across Bad Kleinkirchheim, which is under the spell of the film and its 1970s retro look. Nostalgia with a smile!
By the way: "Klammer - Chasing the Line" is the most expensive Austrian cinema production of all time.