Steigfell Metzelei 2025 – The climbing skins battle

Arrival, course inspection of Steigfell Metzelei, and registration

Upon arriving at the Fichtelberg resort in Oberwiesenthal in Germany, the starting point for the Steigfell Metzelei race, it felt like spring. Although the race is scheduled for January 26, 2025, the main parking lot was showing nearly 10°C. The resort was bustling with people, everyone cheerfully skiing, and all the cable cars and lifts were in full operation. Everything was on a good track to the great race.

The course of the renowned Steigfell Metzelei race is relatively challenging due to it´s difficult navigation and can be tricky for a newcomer like me. Also for matador like Stefan, but that comes later. That’s why my skimo partner took me for an afternoon course inspection. Stefan kindly introduced me to all the difficulties and pitfalls of the course and pointed out what to watch out for. After all, climbing eight times is no small feat, and there are plenty of opportunities to make mistakes. We fine-tuned our strategy and covered about a third of the course together. Without this, I’m certain I would’ve gotten lost and failed to finish.

Right after our scouting trip, we headed to register at Prijut 12, a stylish mountain lodge that will serve as the race headquarters and the venue for the afterparty. The race packet was simply perfect—just the essentials for a ski mountaineer: a bottle of beer, a sausage, and a tin box with the Steigfell Metzelei logo, along with a bib number and some logo stickers. Everything needed for a successful race!

The ceremony and start

At 4:30 PM, the pre-start briefing begins. I understood everything in German perfectly for sure, so I know exactly what I’m getting into. A total of 102 participants listen to the advice of the charismatic organizer, Martin, who, like a true leader, speaks to his people from the roof of a garage with Mount Fichtelberg in the background. The tension is rising, and on top of it all, intense rock music plays in the background.

The racers prepare their skis in the starting corridor. I can’t resist and, of course, place myself right in the front row, motivated, next to the number-one favorite. That favorite is none other than Stefan, who easily won the race last year. The first interesting feature of this race is starting in boots, followed by a run to the skis and putting them on.

A few minutes before the start, I head uphill for a light jog to test the grip of my skins. When I return, the rest of the starting grid is already warming up under the guidance of the mascot, warming up their joints and stiff muscles. I skip this routine like a true professional and go into it as always recklessly, with no regard for my body. Soon, the countdown begins.

3, 2, 1, Steigfell Metzelei!

A mass of 102 people sprints toward their skis, quickly putting them on, and the race begins. To me and Stefan, it felt like it took an eternity to get our skis on, but after a short flat section, we make it into the lead group. The first climb goes up a black ski slope, the steepest one under the Vierersesselbahn quad chairlift. I’m absolutely certain my heart rate must be somewhere around 190 at this point. In the first half of the hill, I’m surprised. We’re in the top 5 when, suddenly, Stefan flies past me at supersonic speed. With long, steady strides, he moves into third place.

The final third of the black slope isn’t all that black anymore, and the observation tower on Fichtelberg, standing at 1,215 meters above sea level, comes into view ahead of us. On this first climb, a leading group of about seven ski mountaineers broke away from the crowd, and it looked like that might be my group as well. Before long, we reach the first transition area at the summit, where motivational music is blasting. Here, I’m surprised by another interesting quirk of the race. At every transition area, an organizer hands me a piece of chocolate, or wait, what is this? Oh, it’s a piece of wood. I have no idea what this nonsense is about, but I hide it into my pocket anyway.

Climbing the Himmelsleiter and under the Hohenlift

Quickly rip off the skins, report my number, and go! At this point, it looks like I’m the last one in the leading group. I can’t see Stefan anymore, but during the descent into the valley along the blue slope no. 9, I manage to overtake one guy. At the bottom, near the start of the next lift, I focus on switching gear and manage to leave the transition area in 5th place. And of course, I quickly grab another piece of wood they’re inserting into my hand again.

Himmelsleiter that’s the name of the second lift we’re climbing under. Translated, it means something like “Ladder to the sky.” Under this poetic “ladder,” one of the ski mountaineers overtakes me, and at this moment, I’m starting to think I might’ve started a bit too aggressively. By the time we reach the top of Fichtelberg, we’ve climbed just 600 meters. After another coordinating between ripping off the skins and stuffing yet another piece of wood into my pocket, we descend into the next transition area.

I still don’t understand the wooden sticks they keep handing me at every transition area, but I’m getting used to it and have even managed to smoothly incorporate it into my routine. By now, it’s the third time I’m putting the skins on, and they’re starting to get soaked, so let´s see what strategy will work moving forward. In a short climb under the Hohenlift, I’m still holding onto 6th place. The first proper descent back to Oberwiesenthal down a black slope puts a serious strain on my thighs, but there’s no time to rest.

Second black slope and run up the ski jump

With some hesitation I put on the training skins in the transition area. They have excellent grip but worse glide. Well, for the black slope ahead, glide isn’t exactly a priority. The second climb up the slope, this time under the Fichtelberg-Schwebebahn cable car, feels endless. Positions aren’t changing much as the three of us battle back and forth for 5th to 7th place. To my surprise, I spot Stefan in the distance, leading the race. Excellent work, brother! Unfortunately, at the next transition area, I see Stefan heading downhill in 3rd place. Apparently, he got a bit lost, went to the wrong transition area, and lost two spots because of it.

The seventh piece of wood goes into my pocket, and it’s back down the black slope. Despite a full day of skiing, the slope is too destroyed, and the descent goes pretty smoothly. The next climb, however, is the dreaded ski jump, also known as the Stairway to Heaven. A sharp right turn leads into the landing area, and from there, we skate our way toward the stairs. Here, skis go onto the backpack, and we run up the steep incline inside the ski jump’s landing. At the top is another transition area, but I barely register what’s happening. All I know is that the mood here is great, with motivational music setting the tone. I quickly strap my skis back on and push downhill toward the next transition.

The “Idiot Slope” and the climb up to the Little Fichtelberg

The next two climbs are under the night ski lift. The transition area beneath the lift is cozy, and I’m handed a cup of sweet tea. By the sixth climb, I’m firmly holding onto 6th place, and the gaps between us are growing. During the first short climb, I start to feel a bit hungry. At the transition area, they give me some strange, tough ball. I chew it, but it’s impossible to swallow! It’s dry and awful. Since I’m hungry, I keep mashing it around in my mouth during the descent, where I finally manage to swallow it down with the help of the tea.

The seventh climb under the Kurvenlift, or the winding lift to Little Fichtelberg, turned out to be harder than I expected. After the turn, the seemingly endless hill kept climbing. Darkness, boredom, hunger – what now? Little Fichtelberg turned out to be not so little after all. It’s only 10 meters shorter, but it sure gave me a solid lesson. At the top of Kleiner Fichtelberg, there’s the usual mini party vibe and a beautifully lit final station of the cable car, which leads to the last climb.

Sachsenbaude and the last grass climb of Steigfell Metzelei

The descent, skiing with about 14 pieces of wood in my pocket, down to Sachensbaude is fast. From there, we head along a cross-country ski trail to the old non functional single chairlift. The transition area here is pleasant, with schnaps and beer. Unfortunately, it’s probably just a final motivator for the last climb. What they conveniently forgot to mention is that there’s no snow. The entire southern slope of Kleiner Fichtelberg is snowless, so I opt for the strategy of hiking in boots with my skis on my back. It’s grueling, and it feels like my rival Marco is trying to steal my 6th place. I don’t give up, even on the final climb—it’s the true “Steigfell Metzelei”!

At the top, I jump into my skis and skate off. It looks like I’ll hold onto my position. There’s still a more complicated section to navigate, but I know exactly what to do from our morning inspection. In the turn, there’s a pile of shit. And, sure enough, it was there! I race past the mess, heading down the slope. From here, it’s just a long descent to the finish!

The bell sounded and Steigfell Metzelei is over!

Crossing the finish line is somethingwhat anyone can do, but the Steigfell Metzelei always has something special. At the finish line, you have to take off your skis, run up the stairs to the Prijut 12 hut, and ring the bell. That’s the moment the clock stops, sending the already excited crowd into a frenzy. I finished after 16 km, 1600 meters of elevation, and 8 climbs in 2 hours and 7 minutes. It was exactly 10 minutes behind the winner. Stefan, my favorite, ultimately finished the race with the “potato medal,” in 2 hours and 5 minutes. The winner was Ernst Schwarz, crossing the line in 1 hour and 57 minutes.

Commentator and director Martin personally congratulates everyone, and there’s truly a warm, friendly atmosphere at the finish line. Everyone hugging and celebrating. At the finish, there’s delicious potato soup, tea, and beer. It’s wonderful to meet people who are comming regularly to the Czech Republic for races, but I have to admit, this race has real character and an incredible vibe. It’s not just about finishing and leaving; it’s about connecting, having a blast, enjoying time in the mountains with same like-minded people, and the beautiful race is just the cherry on the top.

And what about the wood? The final 16th piece was given to me at the finish line after ringing the bell. At one point, I pulled it all out of my pocket, completely confused about what it was for. I handed it to Laura, who cleverly arranged it into a beautiful Steigfell Metzelei logo. Another testament of how funny and well desugned this race is down to the last detail. I’d like to thank the race director, Martin for organizing this celebration of ski mountaineering in the Erz Gebirge. The only thing I regret is not being able to stay for the après-ski party!