Ski Mountaineering World Cup Comes To The Planai

After the successful premiere of the Ski Mountaineering World Cup last year, the men's and women's vertical and sprint races are again on the program on the Planai next weekend. The opening ceremony will take place on Thursday (February 29th) at the main square in Schladming. All participants and spectators can then look forward to exciting races and a varied supporting program from Friday to Sunday.

The “Night Sprint” on Saturday from 5 p.m. will certainly provide a particularly spectacular spectator experience this year. The first edition of the Ski Mountaineering World Cup on the Planai last year caused enthusiasm among athletes, fans and organizers. Spectacular images from the sprint and an emotional premiere victory by Sarah Dreier in front of the home audience in the vertical created an exciting script.

This year, the World Cup weekend will be enriched by another facet, as the already action-packed sprint will take place under floodlights on Saturday evening, creating a real goosebumps atmosphere in the Planai Stadium. Preparations are in full swing In the last few days before the first starting signal, preparatory work is in full swing in the background, “but 100 percent according to plan,” as Hannes Mayerl, head of the local organizing committee, emphasizes. In addition to the approximately 70 helpers, another 40 to 50 employees, officials and media representatives as well as around 200 team members from 20 nations are expected, and they should have optimal conditions.

Andreas Keinprecht, chairman of the TVB Schladming-Dachstein, is also looking forward to the sporting event: “Ski mountaineering and ski touring are experiencing a real boom and have developed into a real megatrend. Their importance in the tourism association is growing accordingly. There are now more than 50 designated ski touring routes available in the Schladming-Dachstein region.” Great supporting program with multimedia lectures and ski tours with athletes. The supporting program surrounding the World Cup races is also particularly attractive. On Friday at 7 p.m. there will be a multimedia lecture with Gela Allmann in the Klang-Film-Theater in Schladming. Under the motto “Skills checked 

“Exercise and train” will be invited to the Pieps avalanche transceiver introduction at the Planai middle station Kessleralm on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Current search strategies are discussed together with certified mountain and ski guides and can be tried out in a training field specially prepared for this event.

On Sunday, participants can look forward to a ski tour with Ski Austria athletes Johanna Hiemer, Armin Höfl, Nils Oberauer and Julian Tritscher. The meeting point is at 11 a.m. at the Planai. Two fascinating routes are explored, both tours start from the Kessleralm and last around two to three hours. Participation in all events is free of charge; those interested can register by sending an email to event@schladming-dachstein.at