News

09 Jan 2009

ICE MASTER 2009 PRESS CONFERENCE

The 8th edition of the Ice Master World Cup was presented this morning to the press. The spectacular Speed competition will also be part of it.

Lots of new features were shown this morning during the press conference of the Ice Master World Cup, which is scheduled from the 16th to the 18th January in the Daone Valley.

The first news is about the competition program, which combines the Difficulty contest of the World Cup with the Speed .

The two 15 meters overhang towers wall of the new structure that is going to host the Difficulty Competition, will be the stage of the big contest among the sprinters called “2° Trophy Cassa Rurale Adamello-Brenta”. Saturday morning at 10.15 a.m. the qualifying games for the man's in the difficulty category will start, followed by the women’s at 2:30 p.m. and leading to an explosive parallel final scheduled on Saturday at 6 p.m..

The "Pareti di Cristallo" organizing committee.

Everything is thus ready for this weekend’s sport appointment in the Daone Valley (a lateral of the Chiese Valley, well known for its winter and summer climbing competitions) starting from the Ice Climbing Stadium, the highest ever built: about 30 m wide and 25 m high for the Difficulty contest, with a 35 meters development of “pulling rope” in overhang.

Referring to the athletic aspect of the competition, the strongest specialists, starting with the winners of last year’s edition, Jenny Lavarda from Bassano and the Austrian Markus Bendler, will be all there. Four days before the start, 89 athletes have subscribed representing 15 nations, with the introduction of 4 Korean climbers. Among the challengers we will see Herbert Klammer from the Aurina Valley in South Tyrol, third in 2008, Anna Torretta from the Aosta Valley, protagonist of the 2007 and 2008 edition, Barbara Zwerger from Bolzano, Petra Müller from Switzerland, second place twelve months ago in Daone, the very young Angelika Rainer from Merano, and the veteran of the group Mauro ‘Bubu’ Bole from Trieste. In particular, the Russian group is very rich, made up of 33 wonderful athletes up to now, who have a long tradition as specialists in the Speed competitions. Will they be the ones who can compete for the "Cassa Rurale Adamello-Brenta Trophy"?

Speed contest

The competition is mainly characterized by the world challenge, but it is also marked by a series of collateral events, which allow the lovers of the mountain to get to know the peculiarities of this wild and charming valley.

From 22nd to 25th January the “La Scuola in Montagna Educational” dedicated to students is reoffered again in order to inform the new generations about the importance of the mountain environment and culture’s protection.
Among the highlights there will be the blessing of the ice axes and a fireworks show, as well as the opening ceremony with the athletes’ parade. The event program schedules the beginning of the qualifications for the Men’s Difficulty contest on Friday, 16th January at 15.45 a.m., while at 6.30 p.m. the passing of the ‘Fanfara Brigata Alpina Taurinense’ in the streets of Daone is also scheduled, followed by the official opening ceremony at the Ice Climbing Stadium with the presentation of authorities and athletes and the blessing of the ice axes at 7.00 p.m.. At 8.00 p.m. there will be meal at the Ice Master outdoor village.
Saturday, 17th January at 9 a.m. the Men’s Difficulty semi-finals will start and at 10.15 a.m. the Women’s. At 2.30 p.m. the Men’s Semifinal and the qualifications and at 3.00 pm the Women’s difficulty qualifications.

At 8.00 p.m. it will be possible to enjoy the parallel Speed finals.
At 7.00 p.m. a night walk in snowshoes starting from the Ice Master outdoor village will be followed by an evening meal with mountain songs performed by Daone’s “Ana Re di Castello” choir. At 9.45 p.m. an BIG ICE MASTER PARTY.
The competitions on Sunday, 18th January will start at 10.15 a.m. with the Women’s Difficulty Final and continue at 2.15 p.m. with the Men’s Final.