Planai

Planai is a World Cup ski course on the Planai mountain in Schladming, Styria. The mountain serves as both a ski resort and a venue for major alpine skiing events. It opened in 1973 with a World Cup downhill race won by Franz Klammer. Since then, it has hosted numerous World Cup races across different disciplines. The course is known for its challenging giant slalom, which has an average incline of 41%. It has hosted two World Championships, in 1982 and 2013, as well as World Cup finals. The night slalom, introduced in 1997, attracts the highest attendance on the World Cup circuit, with up to 50,000 spectators. Visitors to Planai find a well-developed ski resort with a variety of slopes. The giant slalom course is particularly demanding, with sections reaching a 61% incline. The finish area features a striking arc of steel, added during renovations for the 2013 World Championships. The resort also offers floodlit slopes for night skiing, enhancing the experience for both competitors and spectators.