St. Anton's craziest ski race kicks off season

It's that time of year again when amateurs skiers battle it out with the pros to win a brand new car.

The Red Bull Hut Rally returns to St. Anton am Arlberg (Tyrol, Austria) on Dec. 9 and 10. The winners of the Red Bull Hut Rally will be given the keys to two brand new cars (one each for men and women).

The two-kilometre race (down a 450-metre-vertical) kicks off with a massive jump start in the snow and there are almost no rules! On Dec.9, amateurs will have to go through a qualifying round to be able to join the six-person heats on the next day. During the race on Dec. 10, four amateurs will have the opportunity to chase the pros. The aim is to find the fastest line beween mountain huts and moguls down ot he base station of the Galzigbahn lifts.

Watch highlights from last year's event

24 pro-skiers from around the world will enter the race, eight women and 16 men - most notably last year's winner and Super-G world champion Daron Rahlves from the U.S.A.  In addition to the pros, other competitors include freeskiers, freeriders, instructors and hobby racers.

It's also a lot of fun for spectators. A big screen will be set up in the target area which transmits images from the track and from the Heustadln and cabins.

To register for the event, go to www.redbull.at but it's first-come, first-served, and there's only room for 200 applicants. The entry fee is €30 €.

For more information: St. Anton am Arlberg