The big open cross-country skiing race in St. Johann in Tirol!
The Koasalauf is back! The Int. Tiroler Koasalauf in St. Johann in Tirol – the ‘Koasa’ as insiders and locals call it – is one of the biggest cross-country events in Austria. The cross-country skiing competition takes place every year in January or February against the breathtaking backdrop of the Wilder Kaiser.
Competitors from over 20 nations take part in the Int. Tiroler Koasalauf , which is a big sporting and tourist event in a class of its own for the St. Johann in Tirol region. The cross-country event is part of the Euroloppet race series – the association for the biggest cross-country events in Europe.
Koasa skiers doing the cross-country event with the Kitzbüheler Horn in the background in St. Johann in Tirol.
Participants in the skating event at the Int. Tiroler Koaslauf.
Children at the start of the Mini Koasalauf in St. Johann in Tirol.
The Int. Tiroler Koasalauf in St. Johann in Tirol is one of the biggest cross-country skiing events in Austria.
The Int. Tiroler Koasalauf in St. Johann in Tirol is one of the biggest cross-country skiing events in Austria.
The Int. Tiroler Koasalauf in St. Johann in Tirol is one of the biggest cross-country skiing events in Austria.
The Int. Tiroler Koasalauf in St. Johann in Tirol is one of the biggest cross-country skiing events in Austria.
The Int. Tiroler Koasalauf in St. Johann in Tirol is one of the biggest cross-country skiing events in Austria.
The Int. Tiroler Koasalauf in St. Johann in Tirol is one of the biggest cross-country skiing events in Austria.
The Int. Tiroler Koasalauf in St. Johann in Tirol is one of the biggest cross-country skiing events in Austria.
The Int. Tiroler Koasalauf in St. Johann in Tirol is one of the biggest cross-country skiing events in Austria.
Results
Results lists and results from the various events at the Int. Tiroler Koasalauf!
For the 50th time the Int. Tiroler Koasalauf is set to be staged. In St. Johann in Tirol the Koasalauf has long been regarded as legendary and captivates thousands of cross-country skiers every year. In the shadow of the ‘Koasa’, the name the locals give to the impressive mountain massif of the Wilder Kaiser in a mix of pride and reverence, and where the event gets its name from – this is not just the sporting activity that provides joyous moments for spectators & participants, its dreamy setting does too. So much has remained the same at the Koasalauf, yet it has not become ‘dated’ or ‘quiet’. For instance, over the course of the decades the route has changed considerably.
At its première in 1973 the Koasa, in which more than a 1000 skiers took part, proceeded from Kitzbühel via Kössen to St. Johann in Tirol. However after a short time, the race, which has its roots in St. Johann, found a home in other towns at the Wilder Kaiser too. With the construction of new roads and houses the route has to be moved. Since 2010 the Koasa has been held exclusively on the trails in the St. Johann in Tirol region. Every year around 300 volunteers help make this huge sporting event a success, and this year too a fantastic programme awaits.
The history
An open cross-country skiing race which is a tradition!
On 11th February 1973 the first starting klaxon for the Int. Tiroler Koasalauf rang out. In the face of the Wilder Kaiser, reverently called the ’Koasa’ by local people, at that time more than 1000 skiers tackled the 38 km and the 72 km route from Kitzbühel via Kössen to St. Johann in Tirol. Due to heavy snowfall, pretty much on wild routes, skiers sought the quickest way to get to Kössen and St. Johann respectively. In a time of 5 hours 34 minutes and 16 seconds, local star from St. Johann in Tirol, Heinrich Wallner, won the event over 72 km.
The well-known open cross-country ski event was initiated by the ski company ‘Kneissl’ in Kufstein and the chairman of the tourist association in St. Johann in Tirol at the time. Upon closer inspection the similarity between the Koasalauf lettering and that of the Kneissl company is apparent. Over the years the route of the ‘Koasa’, as it was called by insiders, had to be changed time and again due to the construction of roads and houses. So it was that the Koasalauf soon found a home in St. Johann in Tirol.
Since 2010 the Koasalauf has been held solely on the trails in this region in the Kitzbühel Alps, and as a result improvements were continuously worked on for the participants. Franz Puckl sen., Werner Patz, Franz Steinkogler and Hans Richter experienced every change and every innovation. These four men were also known as "The legends of the Koasalauf", since they took part in the ‘Koasa’. The race has changed, but the legends remain.
The four legends
The legendary athletes from the Int. Tiroler Koasalauf!
The four athletes who were there at the Tiroler Koasalauf as participants from the very beginning can truly be called ‘legendary’. Neither bad weather, illness or other happenings could stop the four legends from tacking the Koasalauf. Anticipation for Tiroler Koasalauf is always great and the organizing team of the Int. Tiroler Koasalauf would like to extend a huge thank you to these four athletes and all the participants.
Franz Puckl sen. from Going (AUT), D.O.B. 1935: "For me as a cross-country skier the Koasalauf is the greatest. And as long as I am still able, I want to keep dong it!" says a proud Franz Puckl.
Werner Patz from Kainach (AUT) D.O.B. 1941: "I regard it as a unique event and am always really delighted to be able to stay for a few days during the Koasalauf." muses Werner Patz.
Hans Richter from Kirchweidach (GER) D.O.B. 1941: "The Tiroler Koasalauf? Discovered by chance – it awakened an ambition in me, which then became a passion!" says Hans Richter.
Franz Steinkogler from Ebensee (AUT) D.O.B. 1949 (✟ passed away in November 2023): "When you have taken part once, you are then captivated by the Koasalauf – as long as my feet will carry me, a Steinkogler will always be there!" said a motivated Franz Steinkogler.
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Trail information
Open trails, weather and webcams in the St. Johann in Tirol region!
