FIS Tour de Ski - 100 days to go

Thu, Sep  23, 2010 - By Jürg Capol

It's now 100 days to go until the Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear will have its 5th edition starting in Oberhof on 31st December 2010 and concluding in Val di Fiemme on 9th January 2011. And that means it's time to update you on the activities we've undertaken in the last weeks, including a visit to all the Tour sites.

Oberhof, Oberstdorf, Toblach/Cortina and Val di Fiemme, those are the four Tour sites, all well known for Nordic Skiing with passion and with a long history of Cross-Country on their territory. It was the wish from the beginning of the Tour idea to include the best developed resorts and Cross-Country sites.

We are happy to have Oberstdorf back in the Tour family, first of all it's a beautiful resort and fulfils all our criteria. A second big point, we can improve the logistics for all involved partners, and spend less time on the road, and have a more direct line from north to south. After the implementation of the "A to B" stage from Cortina to Toblach last season, we learned our lessons and the stage will be even a bigger highlight this year.

An additional helicopter will allow us to be more flexible on air and able to switch between the air cams, cams on the snowmobile and fixed cams. And on the last day, we will have a popular race on the Final Climb.

Did you ever wish to ski up to Alpe Cermis? In the morning of 9th January 2011, anyone will have the chance to ski on the original slope, starting at 10:00 h. The race is limited to 200 persons, first come first served. Our Italian friends from Val di Fiemme have created a new brand: Rampa di Campioni, so welcome ski fans!

Four years ago, Tour de Ski was no brand. After these four years, we are now really happy about the interest and enhanced TV figures. Who would have believed, a no brand event four years ago would reach a TV audience of 460 million viewers after just a view years (data based on IFM research)? No other annual winter event can show such a statistic. But we are not done yet.

We still see further development potential. The FIS Tour de Ski already has had an impact on ski events for young skiers. Youth training and competition programs have been adapted, competitions and training skills effecting broad range of skills and combinations have attracted new talents.

We are happy about your attention, and are sure that the 5th edition of the Tour de Ski will again deliver 10 days of great celebration of Nordic Skiing.

Yours Jürg Capol