LAUSANNE, 22nd February 2017 – Every two years, the emotion is unique. This is the essence of any world Championship. For ski Mountaineering athletes the chase of the medal is a lifetime target, but only for some of them will this dream come true. From tomorrow to 2nd March, the challenge begins again and the skimo movement is going to live the 2017 world Championships which goes back to Italy for the third time, after Cuneo 2006 and Claut 2011, and will fire up hearts and souls in one of the best mountaineering scenery, the Eastern Dolomites Region, in the Unesco world heritage area. We are in the north east of the country between the land of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. «The ski Mountaineering tradition in this area – says Armando Mariotta, ISMF president, is ancient and precious. The Alpago – Piancavallo area proved to be one of the pioneer area in our sport competitions. The meaning of going back to our origins is somehow double as important, especially today when we are widening our horizons to new countries». Going further, without forgetting the start of the journey: this is how some 25 nations have already enrolled their athletes, 300 people on the whole, divided in four categories, from senior to junior, espoir and cadet with some 87 medals up for the grabs.
They come from Sweden and Norway, Greece and Romania, South Korea, Japan, China, Iran, Russia, as well as Canada and Untied States, just to mention the “cardinal points” of the skimo universe. The Olympic full recognition has played a fundamental role in the increasing interest in our discipline: «We have always worked on sports as a promotion for our territory», explains Sergio Bolzonello, representative of the local Institutions. The local government has worked hard with the LOC – local organizing committee: «We poured all our know how and history into this event – add Vittorio Romor, technical director of the Champs and Diego Svalduz president of the LOC – : when we look back at the “Transcavallo” competition, it has the taste of the legend». The Transcavallo is one of the first skimo competitions, organized in Italy since 1984 as a “bridge” connecting two different sides of these mountains. It has been part of the world Cup three times in the past, in 2004, 2011 and 2016, and hosted the European Champs in 2009. Last week edition was the final test of the world event. The snow condition and the climate suggested to put the headquarters of the first races in Val Salatis so the Individual track, as well as the Team race will develop on a new area, with technical section up to Monte Catselat and some historical summits of the area. On the other hand the following races, from Sprint to Vertical, to the Relay will be held in Piancavallo, just one hour next door, or “next mountains”, to be precise.
With six main sponsors, 12 official e 16 partners, the world Champs turned out to be an interesting playground also for many brands that decided to support the skimo family: some of them are working together with ISMF also during the world Cup season, like the title sponsor INTERSPORT, UBI Banca and MARLENE presenting sponsors for the Sprint and the Vertical circuit respectively. Some others, like the official sponsors KARPOS and ENERVIT, chose the Champs to renovate their mission in favour of winter sports.
ALPAGO PIANCAVALLO WORLD CHAMPS CALENDAR
Thursday 23rd February
6 PM Opening ceremony
Friday 24th
9,15AM INDIVIDUAL RACE Espoir–Senior
Saturday 25th:
9,15 AM INDIVIDUAL RACE Junior–Cadet
Sunday 26th
9 AM TEAM RACE
Tuesday 28th
From 9 AMSPRINT RACE
Wednesday 1st March
9 AM open Vertical and 10.30 AMVERTICAL
Thursday 2nd
From 10AM RELAY RACE
5 PM Closing ceremony
For more information
www.alpagopiancavallo2017.it. and [email protected]
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ISMF press office
www.ismf-ski.org
Lucia Galli