Release from 13.02.2020

Mastering Challenges for the Ski World Cup in Saalbach

Short text 482 CharactersPlain text

It was not only taking over the races from China that were a considerable task for the Saalbach team. The piste crew also had to tackle Storm Sabine and a massive fall of snow over the last days. More than one hundred volunteers supported the Ski Club of Saalbach Hinterglemm in the resort. After countless hours of work, Saalbach is now ready for action. “Without the numerous volunteers, this wouldn’t be possible” commented Bartl Gensbichler the evening before the downhill race.

Press release 2854 CharactersPlain text

The locals of Saalbach and the Austrian Ski Association were tested to the limit over the last few days. It was not only taking over the races from China that were a considerable task but also Storm Sabine and heavy snowfalls made matters more challengeable. “We spent so many hours clearing the race piste of new snow. Without so many volunteers it would not have been possible to run a race under these circumstances”, said Bartl Gensbichler, Chairman of the Saalbach Hinterglemm Ski Club after the decision was made to start the downhill race further down the piste than initially planned.

A spectators‘ grandstand, public viewing area, catering marquee for around 800 employees and the Ski Austria World Cup party along with a huge award ceremony and drawing of start numbers all sounds like a World Cup supporting programme for which a couple of months advance planning is required. In Saalbach, this has all been possible in just under two weeks. “We have a strong team. This is the only way to accomplish an event like this in such a short time”, stated Mayor Alois Hasenauer.

In addition, it is high season in Saalbach Hinterglemm with 97% of beds being occupied, however, it has still been possible to accommodate all the teams in the Glemmtal. “We have all come together as a team and moved forward as a team. I believe that this week, every room and every extra bed is occupied, but we have managed at short notice to keep everyone close to where the World Cup is taking place”, says Heinz Fuchs, Chairman of the Tourist Office.
The downhill race will commence today at 12:45 on the Zwölferkogel.

Peter Shröcksnadel: “If the great cooperation between Bartl Gensbichler and Ski Club did not exist, it would not be possible to organise such a race”.
“Two-thirds of the race piste would be finished by now. After it was announced that the resort were taking over the races, the Ski Club Saalbach Hinterglemm once again worked flat out. Two of our piste crew even worked with the snow groomer overnight”, says Bartl Gensbichler. The start of the downhill race was moved down a few metres on Thursday.

The mountain on which the World Cup would be held in 2025, should the contract be awarded to Saalbach Hinterglemm in May 2020 is “ready”. Peter Mitterer, Managing Director of the Hinterglemm Lift Company, stated “Thanks to our reliable partner Doppelmayr, we already have the most modern lift system here and would be prepared for the World Championships. We don’t need to construct anything extra – we already have it all!
The mammoth task of mastering a World Cup race within just under two weeks was therefore a success despite the many challenges. After today’s downhill, the Super-G will take place tomorrow at 11:00 am.

saalbach.com/skiweltcup
saalbach2025.com
EN - Lena Wimmer
Lena Wimmer, BA
Media & PR
 
Tourismusverband
Saalbach Hinterglemm
Glemmtaler Landesstraße 550
A-5753 Saalbach Hinterglemm
T: +43/6541/6800-115
 
This press release has: 2 Images

Images (2)

GEPA_full_5117_GEPA-12022084184 (1)
5 010 x 3 340 © GEPA Pictures
GEPA_full_8545_GEPA-12022084171 (1)
5 472 x 3 648 © GEPA Pictures

Get all contents of this press release as .zip: Direct download