Photo: Michael Fleischhacker
January 21–26: 80th Hahnenkamm World Cup Race Week
Kitzbühel, Austria
Long considered the Super Bowl of alpine racing for those with an American sports perspective, Hahnenkamm Week is skiing’s ultimate test of guts and glory. Celebrating its 80th year, the race week culminates with the legendary downhill on the Streif, considered the most demanding, and most dangerous, downhill course on the World Cup circuit. Competitions include men’s Super-G, downhill and slalom. The race weekend can also be touted as the world’s biggest après-ski party, with upwards of 85,000 spectators annually streaming into the town of Kitzbühel, population about 8,000.
January 23 –February 2: Sundance Film Festival
Park City, Utah
Perhaps the most recognized film festival outside of Cannes, the Sundance Film Festival takes over Park City, Utah, each winter with daily screenings, panel discussions, filmmaker and audience Q and As, and such. Since 1985, hundreds of films that have launched at the festival have gained mainstream and critical acclaim. A side benefit for cinephiles who also happen to ski: The local slopes tend to be quiet during the festival, which attracts primarily non-mountain types.
February 5–9: 107th Annual Winter Carnival
Steamboat, Colorado
From skijoring down main street to the Lighted Man’s human fireworks show on Howelsen Hill, the oldest continuous Winter Carnival west of the Mississippi is an unapologetic celebration of winter. The event was started in 1914 by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club to help frontier-town residents cope with cabin fever during the rugged northern Colorado winter.
