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Annual Meeting of the WMA in Klosters at the organizer of MWC 2025
Farewell of Warren Feakes/AUS

15 October 2023     From October 6-9, the annual meeting of The World Masters Cross-Country Ski Association (WMA) took place in Klosters/SUI with the participation of 20 ski nations. Klosters will again be the venue of the Masters World Cup in 2025 after 2017. The experienced organizing committee has already proven their competence and passion for cross-country skiing at the first staging. The Organizing Committee, led by Dominik Heeb, was well prepared for the visit of the delegates and presented itself in the best possible way. The members of the Board were able to get a renewed impression of all the venues and also welcomed the planned relocation of the stadium. The Masters World Cup in Klosters will take place from March 10-15, 2025. As in 2017, the MWC can be well combined with participation in the Engadin Skimarathon on March 9. The organizer's website is already online, www.mwc2025.com.

Another important item in the agenda of the delegates were the updates of the organizing committee of the MWC 2024, which will be held in Vuokatti/Finland from February 10 to 16. Vuokatti already hosted successfully the Masters World Cup in 2016 and many other international ski competitions. Vuokatti can be reached via Kajaani, Oulu and Kuopio airports. The special atmosphere in Vuokatti is also helped by the fact that all participants can be accommodated in the resort and the distances from the accommodations to the start and the tracks are extremely short. Improvements have been made to both the start area, which has been completely relocated, and the courses. All information, such as accommodation bookings, etc., can be found on the organizer's website www.mwc2024.com. In the homepage of the organizer you can register for the newsletter of the organizing committee, so that you do not miss any important information. Registrations are already possible and can be done online at Datasport at www.datasport.com.

Also on the agenda of the WMA Board was the re-election of the WMA Presidium. For a further period of 4 years John D. Downing (USA) as President, Klaus Pleyer as Vice President (SUI) and Elisabeth Heckmann (SUI) as Vice President/Treasurer were unanimously re-elected.

Thanks and recognition were given to long-time Australian National Director Warren Feakes, who is leaving the WMA at his own request. Feakes represented Australian Masters cross-country skiers very actively and successfully in the WMA from 2006 to 2023. He managed to compete with an Australian team at every MWC. He was given a standing ovation by those present. He will be greatly missed by the entire WMA Board.

Similar to FIS points, participants in Masters World Cups will receive WMA points. The Board members are informed that the new ranking, valid for the MWC 2024 in Vuokatti can be downloaded now at https://www.world-masters-xc-skiing.com/media/wma_ranking_2024_1_.pdf.

From prominent side the application for MWC 2026 was introduced. Silvio Fauner presented Sappada/ITA in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in the best possible way. Entire audience very pleased that after Dobbiaco, Folgaria, Brusson and Asiago, once again a Masters World Cup will take place in Italy and unanimously approved Sappada's application.

The next annual meeting in autumn 2024 will be held in Sappada. The course has already been set for 2027 as well. The WMA has received a declaration of interest from Tromsoe, Norway. In an impressive video message, the location was brought closer to the WMA Board.

The WMA Board will again have fond memories of Klosters, not only because of the wide range of sporting opportunities, but also with regard to the special hospitality extended to all.