ISMF World Cup Ski Mountaineering
Planai Stadion
It's that time again at the beginning of March - the Ski Mountaineering World Cup in Schladming is entering its second round!
The order of the competitions will change this winter season - the vertical race for men and women will take place on Friday 1st March and the sprint race for men and women on Saturday 2nd March.
Find more information about the program schedule & side program HERE
Event location
Coburgstraße 52
8970 Schladming
Contact
e.mayer@hsg-schattauer.at
1st of March - The vertical
The "Vertical" or "Vertical Race" is a pure ascent race with ski skins.
The start takes place in the Planai stadium, and this is where things start to get exciting, as the mass start sees a battle for the best starting position for the first ascent.
The route leads over around 600 metres in altitude to the middle station of the Planai cable car, where we expect the winners after around 25 minutes. Strength and endurance are just as crucial on the ascent as the right tactics on the very selective route.
Victory will only be decided on the last steep climb and we are of course keeping our fingers crossed that our ladies and gentlemen will be right at the front.
With Sarah Dreier, we already have a European Championship medallist in the vertical and Johanna Hiemer from Schladming knows practically every transition on the course in her sleep. The best prerequisites for an exciting vertical race on the Planai.
For spectators, it is definitely worth taking the cable car directly to the middle station after the start and experiencing the exciting finale up close. The flower ceremony takes place directly after the vertical race in the middle station area.
2nd of March - The Sprint
The sprint combines all the techniques of ski mountaineering in a very confined space on the finish slope of the Planai.
After qualifying, which each athlete has to complete on their own, 6 runners compete head-to-head against each other. Speed, skill and tactics are required, because the course that the sprinters have to master is a tough one.
From the start, they practically head straight into the so-called diamonds, which act as course dividers and require a certain amount of skill. After a short ascent, it's time to change quickly: The skis are taken off and carried on the rucksack. The carrying section is also the steepest part of the course, at the end of which another transition zone awaits.
With skis strapped on, the route continues in hairpin bends to the highest point of the sprint, where the skins are ripped off the skis. The rapid descent, which is also garnished with waves and small jumps, takes you down to the finish.
The first two of each "heat" advance to the next round. Until the top 6 finishers battle it out for victory and the podium places.
Gallery
