Schladming’s German dream: a ski town’s World Cup fever
How a 10,000-person Austrian ski hub became the loudest outpost for Germany’s national team during the World Cup.
Schladming, a 10,000-person ski town in Austria, has turned into Germany’s loudest outpost 600 km east of Berlin. The alpine community, Wetzlar’s official partner city, has draped red-white-black flags on balconies and crammed Hauptplatz with 2,000–3,000 fans for every Germany World Cup match. Bars and cafés project games on giant outdoor screens, while a brass band strikes up the national anthem before kickoff.
