THE KANDAHAR, A LEGENDARY EVENT

The history leading up to the creation of the Kandahar, its ground-breaking rules, the introduction of the combined event, its winners which can still be counted on the fingers of one hand and the host resorts of international repute, are all an integrate part of the Arlberg Kandahar legend.

The Kandahar existed before the creation of the World Cup circuit. At the time those who won at the foot of Mont Blanc became legends in their own lifetimes! Winning the title (with medals inscribed with the magical letters "AK") was the equivalent of being awarded a supreme accolade and for decades, the Arlberg Kandahar races were the ultimate events in alpine skiing.

Created in 1928, it was the first international alpine competition to combine downhill and slalom events. This combination still exists in the Olympic Games and the World Championships. Both spectacular and very difficult, it remains a measure of excellence, even if over the past few years, skiers are increasingly less suited to such events.

By preserving the Kandahar name, and the Combined discipline, in particular in the World Cup rankings, Chamonix is stands out in its desire to continue the Kandahar legend.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

It was at Chamonix that the members of the Ski Club of Great Britain used to come to carry out their tests (in horse-drawn coaches!) led by Henry Lunn, father of Arnold, the man behind the famous Arlberg Kandahar event. With the development of tourism and facilities, skiing in the valley of Chamonix has developed ever since, together with its considerable international reputation.

The first Winter Olympic Games of 1924 were undoubtedly when Chamonix achieved international recognition for the first time.

The development of facilities in the valley opened up access to exceptional sites. At the foot of the Mont Blanc massive, all the ski areas offer exceptional panoramic views, with excellent quality high altitude skiing and snow conditions, on a variety of pistes. Today, people come from the world over for the 20 km of off-piste skiing in the "Vallée Blanche", to ski or surf on the difficult pistes of the Grands Montets, to take advantage of the incredible views at the Brévent-Flégère or else to enjoy the gentle, family runs at Les Houches.

Chamonix has naturally become a part of skiing history.

THE COURSE, THE PISTE

The "Verte" piste in Les Houches is 'green' in name only.

This legendary piste in the Mont-Blanc massif is outlined with pine trees. Its environment and orientation towards the sun often offers an ice covered, green tinted slope, from where it gets its name.

This downhill piste is in fact a 3343m long black run with an 870m vertical drop. The best skiers in the world launch themselves down it in two minutes.

A series of highly technical sections and jumps, including the Cassure and the Goulet, make this one of the most spectacular downhills in the world.

It is the only FIS authorised downhill piste in the Haute-Savoie included on the men's World Cup circuit. In France, only the resorts of Val d'Isère and Chamonix have a men's downhill piste on the World Cup circuit.

Altitude at the start gate: 1871m

Altitude at the finish line: 1001m

Vertical drop: 870m

Length: 3343m

RESULTS (2000-2008)

2000 Downhill Men

1. MAIER Hermann (AUT) 2. EBERHARTER Stephan (AUT) 3. TRINKL Hannes (AUT)

2000 Slalom Men

1. WEISS Angelo (ITA) 2. AAMODT Kjetil André (NOR) 3. VRHOVNIK Matjaz (SLO)

2000 Combined Men

1. AAMODT Kjetil André (NOR) 2. MAIER Hermann (AUT) 3. ACCOLA Paul (SUI)

2004 Downhill Men

1. EBERHARTER Stephan (AUT) 2.KJUS Lasse (NOR) 3. WACHHOFER Michael (AUT)

2004 Slalom Men

1. ROCCA Giorgio (ITA) 2. BOURGEAT Pierrick (FRA) 3. MILLER Bode (USA)

2004 Combined Men

1. MILLER Bode (USA) 2. RAICH Benjamin (AUT) 3. KJUS Lasse (NOR)

2005 Downhill Men

1. GRUGGER Johann (AUT) 2. GHEDINA Kristian (ITA) 3. WALCHHOFER Michael (AUT)

2005 Slalom Men

1. ROCCA Giorgio (ITA) 2. RAICH Benjamin (AUT) 3. LARSSON Markus (SWE)

2006 Super Combined Men

1. RAICH Benjamin (AUT) 2. SCHOENFELDER Rainer (AUT) 3. MILLER Bode (USA)

2008 Downhill Men

1. SULLIVAN Marco (USA) 2. CUCHE Didier (SUI) 3. JERMAN Andrej (SLO)

2006 Super Combined Men

1. MILLER Bode (USA) 2. KOSTELIC Ivica 3. SCHOENFELDER Rainer (AUT)

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