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Press release 4^th February 2022

GSIESERTAL LAUF’S FAIRY-TALE CONTINUES
THE SNOW QUEEN KOWALCZYK AT THE STARTING LINE

The snowy Gsiesertal is the pearl of South Tyrol ski-marathons
The Polish champion Justyna Kowalczyk books her bib to repeat her result in 2019
Competitions for all: classic and skating along 42 or 30 km
Sceptre to the ‘King of the Mountain’ sprint winners

Enchated! Some fresh snow recently covered the magical Gsiesertal. Silent and slowly, just in time to make skiers and the organising committee, led by Walter Federer, happy. Gsiesertal Lauf takes place on the 19^th and 20^th February: even though not much needed, snow is always welcomed. 
The 38^th edition is already a success, with two days full of fun, sport and as a tradition born in 1984, when the first edition took place. Along with the music by “Radio Studio Più”, on Saturday 19^th Elite athletes are the first to start, until the last group of the ‘Just For Fun’, those who would like to enjoy a day skiing, perhaps with a bunch of friends, without performance or rankings anxiety.
In the little village of San Martino, precisely in its square, there is the bronze statue dedicated to Father Joachim Haspinger, who fought against Napoleon’s troops. Here, both competitions in classic technique (on Saturday) and skating (on Sunday), along the 42 or 30 km, start and finish. The shortest track passes through Colle, Tesido, Colle again and back to San Martino; the 42 km-track goes on to Santa Maddalena, then back to San Martino.
During these two days of competitions, the O.C. proposes six awarded ‘premiums sprints’: three on Saturday and three on Sunday, thanks to the sponsors Alperia, Sportful (for women), King of the Mountain by Hotel Quelle, Hoku, Mila (for women) and South Tyrol. For the 38^th edition, King of The Mountain by Hotel Quelle represents something new: it goes from km 30.3 to km 33.5 and is specific for the 42 km classic race, just before reaching the highest point of the track (1516m), where the new king and queen will be crowned.
Coming from Poland, Justyna Kowalczyk is the cherry on top for this weekend. She is a well-known champion of narrow skis: five Olympic medals (3 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronzes), 8 World Championship medals and even 65 World Cup podiums. Also… a first place in Gsiesertal Lauf in 2019. This is the latest news from the O.C., let’s see what is next in the upcoming days.
Not to forget, the 28^th MiniGsiesertal Lauf, starting on Saturday 19^th afternoon, is dedicated to the youth categories from U8 to U18. More than 400 volunteers already, together with the committee staff, are accomplishing the last tasks to guarantee a safe event according to Covid’s ongoing rules. Registrations are only possible online on the event website until 9 am, Sunday 20^th. Better to move on and book a bib, Gsiesertal Lauf is ready to tell a new fairy-tale.
 
Info: www.valcasies.com