Lech
The longest ski race in the world returns to Lech in Austria in mid-January.
The White Ring, being staged for the sixth time, covers 22 kilometres of piste and 5,500 difference in altitude in Lech-Zürs in the Arlberg region and takes place this winter on 15th January.
The fun race, on blue grade trails, begins at the top of the Rufikopf cable cars above Lech and heads off down piste 38. The first drag lift at Schuttboden takes competitors to the start of the second piste, 38A, and then chair 6 to the top of piste 3 whicch leads to the valley road crossing between Lech and Zürs.
Now across the valley, chairs 4 then 2 take racers to the village of Zug from where two more lifts take you to the Kriegerhorn and the long piste 34 down past Oberlech to the race finish in central Lech for an evening of partying.
Various age and ability classes take part and a charity donation is made for every competitor by the organisers. Last year's winner took just under 45 minutes to complete the course.