Successful Masters World Cup in Seefeld/AUT

26 March 2023     On March 24, the 41st Masters World Cup in cross-country skiing in Seefeld/Tyrol ended with an unforgettable closing ceremony for both the athletes and all volunteers from Hirschau. The music, which invited to dance, the fine food and the great atmosphere made us forget about the rain, which started after the competitions.

Even the district administrator of the Amberg-Sulzbach district, Richard Reisinger, came to congratulate the participants on their achievements in the cross-country tracks and to express his thanks and appreciation to the SC Monte Kaolino Hirschau for this organizational masterpiece.

With a standing ovation, the almost 900 participants thanked the organizers of SC Monte Kaolino Hirschau from Bavaria for their extraordinary performance and called all the helpers from Hirschau to the stage. It was by no means taken for granted that the MWC could be held, but the Bavarian ski club did everything to provide the best possible conditions for the participants from 25 nations despite the most difficult snow and weather conditions.

Praise and thanks were given from The World Masters Cross-Country Ski Association (WMA) by President John Downing (USA) to the organizing committee under the leadership of Thomas Heckmann, who in turn thanked the athletes present, the national directors and his team most warmly in a short closing speech.

The flag of the WMA was taken down by the Hirschau organizers and presented to Jouko Kärki from Finland, the representative of the Masters World Cup 2024. The MWC will be held in Vuokatti from February 10-17.

The athletes in the 13 age groups had exciting competitions in the tracks in spring-like temperatures and showed extraordinary sporting performances. The representative of the German delegation, Andreas Dillemuth, was particularly proud of the team, which took first place in the medal ranking with 72 medals (24 gold, 28 silver, 20 bronze). In second place followed the team of Italy with a total of 56 medals (21 gold, 17 silver, 18 bronze) ahead of Finland with 63 medals (20 gold, 21 silver, 22 bronze), Switzerland 52 medals and USA with 46 medals.

Representatives of The World Masters Cross-Country Ski Asssociation used the special occasion to thank and bid farewell to some of their most deserving and long-serving National Directors. Bruce le Grow, Canada, and Rolf Hammar, Sweden, were both present in person; while Karl Kamphenkel, Germany, and Valeri Sharov, Kazakhstan, were unable to attend.