Sunny day, beautiful landscape and spring temperatures welcomec the participants at the 15th edition of Südtirol Gardenissima. The temperature at the start at an altitude of 2,518 m, at 8 am marked +1 ° C. Not ice rink and held up very well the passage of 650 bidders due to efforts of John Kasslatter director of the race with its partners, who ensured a spectacular and exciting race until the last competitor.
The registration for the 15th Südtirol Gardenissima were already closed in mid-February to reach the maximum limit of participants. A successful proof that Gardenissima Tyrol is becoming a permament date in calendar for many skiers.
Sunday morning the runs Seceda and Col Raiser were already in operation from 6.30h to allow participants to carry out reconnaissance of the track from 07.00 to 08.00.
women winners of Gardenissima 2011, photo courtesy of Val Gardena Marketing
Gardenissima isthe original and longest giant slalom in the world with a race track of 6 km and a vertical drop of no less than 1033 meters.
As usual the race was scheduled to leave in pairs. The initial path of 500 meters is a parallel slalom, which close to Daniel’s hut changes into one place giant slalom. Along the route were well-positioned 115 posts.
The race took of on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 8:30 with start of 8 dozers, including local authorities and sports.
Later the competitiors took place at starting point. Divided into 38 categories, among the first to get the team of “Deaflympics (Deaf), followed by ex-athletes in the World Cup category” old stars “: Isolde Kostner, Marc Girardelli, Peter Runggaldier, Paoletta Magoni, Ivan Marzola, Karla Delago, Alan Perathoner and Ylvi Runggaldier. Immediately after the athletes of the white circus: Denise Karbon (ITA), Verena Stuffer (Val Gardena), Jessica DePaul (AUT), Stefanie Moser (AUT), Stuhec Ilka (SLO) and Janina Schenk (ITA) for women and Romed Baumann (AUT), Ondrej Bank (CZE) Dominik Paris, Stefan Thanei, Massimo Penasa, Jonas Senoner, Hagen and Kurt Pittschieler Patscheider (ITA) for the men.
The prizes for the best time for men and women, namely the 2 checks of 5,000.00 Euros each were awarded to ‘Austrian athlete Romed Baumann (3.37,74) and the strong Slovenian athlete Ilka Stuhec (3.47,23).
men winners of Gardenissima 2011, photo courtesy of Val Gardena Marketing
Second in the men’s category, with less than 4 seconds and 38 cents, came Penasa Massimo (ITA – 3’42, 12) in front of Stefan Thanei (ITA). Second in the female category, and 45 cents in 2 seconds, was ranked the strong Austrian athlete Stefanie Moser (3’49, 68), followed by the talented athlete, home winners of last year Verena Stuffer.
In the “Old Stars” won respectively the strong ex-athletes home Isolde Kostner (3’59, 27) and Peter Runggaldier (3’59, 96).
Follow in the female category Ylvi Runggaldier before Karla Delago and the male Marc Giardello (CH) in front of Alan Perathoner (ITA).
They also secured the podium in 3rd Combined Südtirol Gardenissima/Lussarissimo, which had registered this year among the 41 athletes and athletes, the Italian Laura Di Genova (ITA) among women and Austrian Stefan Lussnig among men. The parallel giant valid for the combined event was held last March 12 at Mount Lussari Tarvisio.
This year the trophy “Red Bull – a race in the race,” a stretch of the route of Gardenissima is timed to measure the speed of the athletes in that space. The fastest were Jonas Senoner and Stefanie Moser.
The winners in 38 categories were taken home great prizes, consisting of choice of goods at the store Maciaconi Demetz, baskets with products from South Tyrol, sporting goods and holiday vouchers.
In addition to the winners of each category were awarded various teams such as ski clubs, G. S. military, the corporate team and fan club.
Among all participants reached the finish line were also raffled prize of stays in Val Gardena. A special prize was also awarded to competitors older Helmuth Kunze (1933) and Traudl Gilger (1944). They were also awarded the 11 most loyal fans of Südtirol Gardenissima, these 15 years have regularly participate in all the editions are: Raimund Alton, Joseph Benard, Robert Demetz, Willi Demetz, Werner Goller, Peter Perathoner, Willi Perathoner, Roger Ravazzi Marco Santin, Markus and Arthur Stoll Unterfrauner.
The 650 participants from over 12 countries including Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Poland, Netherlands, USA, Croatia, Great Britain, Switzerland and Canada have experienced this year a very exciting sport. Were measured with famous ski champions and participated in a great sports festival. In addition, the large audience in the parterre has been able to follow the entire race on a giant screen as he had the chance to taste the South Tyrolean specialties and grilled fish offered by the friendly “lifeguards of Riccione. Also present in this season finale the boys of “Zoo 105″ with music, jokes and comments.
Were 15 corporate teams participating, the largest Team Attersee with 29 participants, followed by the team: adrenaline-forever.com, Almtaler, Click Café Racing Team, Feniks Bled Slovenia, Hotel Rodella, Naturfreunde Grieskirchen, Ostspeed, Paterno Dugnano Vintage Ski Team, Ski Yetis, Kirchberg ski club, SV-Steeg, Valsassina Team Racing, Völkl Team by Jack Black and ASV Zipfer Skiteam.
You can see the descent of each competitor 4 / 5 days after the ‘event on www.gardenissima.eu.
Also this year the Südtirol Gardenissima is history, but waiting for the 2012 edition, scheduled for April 1st, we will hold our memories in this day of celebration in the name of ‘friendship and sport, in a scenario of the Dolomites incomparable beauty.
Irene Delazzer
Val Gardena-Gröden Marketing - Società consortile a r.l. – Konsortialgesellschaft m.b.H.
Str. Dursan 80/c – I-39047 S. Cristina/St. Christina (BZ) – Italy
Tel.: +39 0471 777 777 – Fax: +39 0471 792 235
www.valgardena.it
