Former British Alpine skier Chemmy Alcott provides thrilling POV footage of Cortina's legendary downhill course.
The iconic Cortina downhill course, one of Alpine skiing's most challenging venues, has been brought to life through the eyes of former British ski racer Chemmy Alcott. In a captivating point-of-view video, Alcott guides viewers through every twist, turn, and terrifying moment of this legendary track that embodies both the beauty and danger of Alpine skiing.
"This downhill in Cortina is truly iconic, everything you love in a track and yet everything that you fear," Alcott explains as she launches from the start gate. The course immediately demands respect with its opening sequence - powerful arm pushes to gain speed before diving into a hard left spinner that sets the tone for what's to come.
Cortina's Technical Challenges
The course's reputation for technical difficulty becomes evident as Alcott navigates through its most demanding sections. The approach to Tofana requires precise direction and commitment, with speeds escalating dramatically from 50 to 80 miles per hour in just four seconds on a punishing 62-degree gradient.
"You've got to commit to the line," Alcott emphasizes as she tackles the Suzuki section in a one-handed tuck position. The course demands constant activity and split-second decision-making as racers fly over icy, technical terrain that leaves no room for hesitation.
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The latter portion of the course presents its own unique challenges. After navigating the money turn and dropping into the meadows, racers face another high-speed section with varied terrain leading to the Romero compression. This blind section requires absolute trust in line choice and body position.
The final approach tests every fiber of a racer's being. "The legs are burning, you're skipping over the terrain into the last jump," Alcott describes, before making the big forward move and tucking through the finish line. Her conclusion captures the essence of downhill racing: "I feel absolutely alive, my legs are pretty dead though."
