Press release, 6.10.2013

Press conference on Sunday 6 October 2013 for the FIS Ski World Cup Opening 2013 Telemark at the Hintertux Glacier.

A FIS Telemark race will be held in the year-round Hintertux Glacier ski resort for the first time! 120 athletes from 14 nations will battle it out from 28.11.-1.12.2013.

With its elegant technique, Telemark represents the roots of skiing as it developed some 150 years ago in Norway as well as being a modern performance sport as racers in special suits and special racing skis tackle a giant slalom course, big jump or skating track to the finish line.

Last Sunday, managers and the organisational team introduced the press at the glacier to what will happen here at the end of November.

“Telemark is a young and dynamic sport with enormous potential. Here at the Hintertux Glacier, racing teams from 52 nations are already busy practising along with freestylers and snowboarders and we are very happy that three Telemark races will be hosted here in the run-up to the World Cup,” says Markus Tipotsch, Chairman of the Tux-Finkenberg Tourist Board. “The Telemark parallel races are particularly spectacular and represent a perfect sport for our guests,” he continues.

President of the FIS Telemark Committee, Andrew Clarke, spoke about the future of Telemark as a sport: “I am sure that Telemark will be an Olympic discipline by 2022. Today the FIS includes 800 active ski racers. World Cup races take place across Europe, Canada and the USA and races are already planned for Turkey and the ski centre in Dubai. The potential is enormous; while sports like Alpine skiing and snowboarding have been declining for some years, Telemark has continued to grow,” he continues.

Organiser Richard Schürf explains why Hintertux has been chosen as the host venue for the World Cup weekend: “I have been organising Telemark festivals across the Alpine region for the last 13 years. But I have never experienced support like that provided by the Tux-Finkenberg Tourist Board, the mountain railways and the Hippach winter sports association. Here everyone pulls in the same direction to ensure a perfect prelude to the World Cup for the athletes, spectators and Telemark fans. And of course, there will again be plenty of opportunities for guests to try out this fascinating sport and practise their first jumps and elegant lunges, complete with equipment hire and tips from professionals!” By the way, anyone who wants to try out the new, old sport can hire the necessary equipment at the ‘Freeheeler’ Telemark Testival Site on the Hintertux Glacier and take part in a Telemark workshop.

This may seem straightforward in theory – and so the press representatives were given the chance to try Telemark for themselves. With skilled instruction of course: Telemark coach Fritz Trojer of the German Ski Association and 3x Telemark World Champion Tobias Müller took on the enthusiastic Telemark novices and they were soon completing their first Telemark jumps on the ideally prepared pistes of the Gefrorene Wand and Olperer.

The FIS SKI WORLD CUP OPENING 2013 TELEMARK will take place at the Hintertux Glacier from 28.11. – 01.12.2013. All information can be found at www.fis-worldcup.at.

For accommodation enquiries, contact the Tux-Finkenberg Tourist Board team on +43 5287 8506, info@tux.at or online at www.tux.at.