Snow Show Willingen 2026

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Snow Show Willingen 2026

Early in the morning, a small Thunderbike team set off for the Sauerland. The group included: Tim as team leader, three motivated trainees to lend a hand, Glatzzo behind the camera and lens, Jannik as the host, and Justin and Kim as riders—Justin on the trainee bike and Kim on an Evo Sporty.
Accompanied by an impressive sunrise, the ride headed toward Willingen—a start that set the tone for the entire weekend.

We arrived in perfect weather, set up the paddock, and checked out the course. The organizers had prepared a challenging track—and little by little, the grounds filled up. More and more bikes, more and more people, all with one goal: to conquer the hill.

What made it special: The event was held for the first time, was free, and open to everyone. No matter what bike, no matter what skill level—anyone brave enough could participate.

In addition to numerous riders, well-known names were also on site, including Harley-Davidson dealers such as Harley-Davidson Münsterland, Harley-Davidson Pfeiffer, Harley-Davidson Factory, and Bike Farm, as well as scene legends like Basti from Jekill, Chris Lietsch, Ralle, and Thilo Günther.

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The mood? Relaxed, but also a little uncertain. No one really knew what was going to happen. When would practice start? How many runs would there be? And most importantly: What would happen with the rain front that was forecast?

Training Under Time Pressure

Just moments ago, we were relaxing over coffee at Wilddieb when things suddenly started to heat up. An announcement, a crowd gathering—the first briefing.

The message was clear: Get ready, we’re starting—as long as the weather cooperates.

Within seconds, things got hectic. The first riders got ready, including Justin. Kim decided to start by observing the course and the other riders.

The first runs quickly showed: the mountain was no joke. Ralle started on his Pan America—no spikes, no major prep—and actually made it to the top. Chris Lietsch followed on his Low Rider S, also without spikes, fought his way far up but didn’t reach the finish.

From choppers to stock bikes to professional hillclimbers, everything was represented.

Then it was Justin’s turn: He rode his Ironhead Crosser right into the thick of the action—without hesitation, he charged up the hill and immediately showed what he was made of.

Kim also ventured to the starting line. Despite tips and support from the team, executing the run proved difficult—one attempt wasn’t enough. But before she could get a second chance, the rain set in and brought the practice session to an abrupt end.

Even before the race, Justin shows what he’s capable of—he completely dominated practice.

Team Night & Race Numbers

Back to camp, a quick team meeting—and then off to the Wilddieb. That’s where the race numbers were handed out that evening.

In a rustic cabin atmosphere, the participants were called up and received their numbers. Kim started with 15, Justin with 58—a solid starting position.

That evening, Beate and Andreas Bergerforth joined us to experience the event live. Together with friends, colleagues, and acquaintances from the scene, we wrapped up the first day in a relaxed atmosphere.

and Steady Nerves

Saturday, 6:30 a.m.: A glance out the window revealed snow-covered trees—perfect conditions.

After breakfast, we headed back to the track. Final preparations were underway as more and more visitors arrived. The grounds were now completely blanketed in snow—the atmosphere was unique.

A special highlight before the start: Three young Crossriders, including a girl, were allowed to test the hill—and mastered the course with ease. The perfect start.

The race begins

The starting gun went off right on time at 11 a.m. By then, not only the racing team was on site, but also family members and other Thunderbike supporters.

The first riders took off right away—some made it to the finish line, including familiar faces like Basti from Jekill and Hyde.

Then things got serious for Kim. The first attempt: She got stuck at the start, and the belt fell off. But the team reacted quickly and got everything back in order. The second attempt didn’t go perfectly either—but that’s exactly what turned into an opportunity: A third run became possible.

20 bikes later, Kim was back at the starting line. A deep breath, full concentration—and then: full throttle.

With sheer willpower, she fought her way up the hill and brought the 883 to the finish line. A moment that made the whole team proud.

Basti von Jekill is riding his Shovelhead up the hill – congratulations!

Ready Together – #teamthunderbike

All good things come in threes – Kim battles her way to the finish line on the Evo Sportster

Justin is tearing up the track—with a time of 14 seconds, he’s among the fastest in the old-school carburetor class

Strong performances & true diversity

Even beyond that, the race offered some spectacular moments: even large bikes like a Road Glide made it successfully to the finish line.

Many riders rose to the challenge, while others fell short—whether they were perfectly prepared or simply charged ahead bravely. That’s exactly what made it so exciting.

Justin also delivered a strong performance, bringing the Ironhead across the finish line with confidence and impressive control.

He’s the only one to get the excavator to the finish line—respect!

This is what it looks like when hill climbers get serious

Bike Farm Melle pushes on and brings the Sporty to the finish line

A Vespa on the outside, a KTM on the inside—it wasn’t an easy race, but with determination and good spirits, we crossed the finish line and won the special trophy

An Event with a Future

Overall, the Willingen Snow Race was a resounding success. For a debut event, it drew a large crowd—and the weather even cooperated in the end.

The classes ranged from custom-built bikes to enduro and old-school models, as well as modern and open classes and electric bikes. The class divisions weren’t always entirely clear—but that didn’t dampen the spirits.

A special highlight: The victory in the Ladies class went to Kim—even though the field was small, the win counts.

Just in time for the awards ceremony, it started snowing again—a perfect ending.