29/03: Great final race of the Austria Ski Tour Cup on the Dachstein (AT)

Alex Lugger: photo Andi Tekautz - ASTCAlexander Hug: photo Andi Tekautz - ASTCFINAL RESULTS
The skimountaineers of Austria had the most important meeting of the season on Saturday 29th March in Dachstein: the Austrian Champioships. Dachstein Xtrem ist THE ski mountaineering race in Austria and is known as the hardest race in Austria and East-Alps: 16,9km, 1960m uphill including the climb of the mythic Hoher Dachstein (almost 3000m). After the success of the race last year, valid for the World Cup, 110 Athletes were ready to take the start this year.

The weather hasn’t been easy for the organizers. The heavy and continuous snowfalls for the last weeks and the high avalanche risk obliged to change the itinerary. Anyway, the alternative itinerary was very interesting and hard. The start was on the top station of the cable car Dachstein. After a descent on the Schladminger Glacier, the racers climbed the Kleiner Gaijdstein. The most difficult part was the ascent of the Dachstein. The climb followed the “via ferrata” up to the 3000m high summit. Skis on the back and all the way equipped by fixed ropes, the athletes climbed the 150m long wall.

After 3 walking parts, 4 downhills and 5 uphills, the athletes reached the finish line again at the top station of Dachstein cable car. The Austrian Alexander Lugger won the race with only 2 hours and 11 minutes, followed by the Swiss Alexander Hug. On third place arrived the Austrian Hans Wieland. 4th and 5th place were for the Austrians Alexander Fasser and the Slovenian Kuhar Nejc.

On women’s category, the favorite local racer Lydia Prugger won. After her very good results on the last World Championships, she was unbeatable on this race. Behind her, the Austrian Renate Schwab and the American Monique Merrill had no chances to catch her.

On the short race (12,5km and 1400m), the victory was for the German Seppi Rottmoser, only a few seconds before the Austrian Adi Stonig and the 17-years old Tyrolean Philipp Brugger.

The Dachstein has every year a better international acceptance. After being World Cup 2007, this year 8 Nations took the start: Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovenia, Finland and USA.

The Dachstein Xtrem is the last of the Austrian races of this season, but the Austrian National Team has still a race in their agenda: the final of the World Cup in Italy on 12th April, where they expect to repeat their excellent results on the World Championships.

More information and pictures of the Dachstein Xtrem on www.astc.at.

Start (by Ricardo Slevatico)Alex Lugger (by Ricardo Slevatico)Kleiner Gjaidstein (by Ricardo Slevatico)Kleiner Gjaidstein (by Ricardo Slevatico)Kleiner Gjaidstein (by Ricardo Slevatico)Alexander Hug (CH), 2nd (by Ricardo Selvatico)Kleiner Gjaidstein (by Ricardo Slevatico)Up to the Dachstein (by Ricardo Selvatico)