Welcome Innsbruck - Winter 2016/2017

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WELCOME || 25
KÖNIGLICH
SKIFAHREN
++++ GRÖSSTES GLETSCHERSKIGEBIET
ÖSTERREICHS bis 3.210 m
++++ SCHNEEGARANTIE VON OKTOBER BIS JUNI
++++ HIGHLIGHTS: Snowpark Stubai Zoo, BIG Family Stubaier
Gletscher, Powder Department Stubaier Gletscher
++++ FÜR DIE GENUSSPAUSE: Haubenrestaurant Schaufelspitz
++++ KINDER UNTER ZEHN JAHREN FAHREN IN BEGLEITUNG
EINES ZAHLENDEN ELTERNTEILS FREI
++++ EISGROTTE STUBAIER GLETSCHER
++++ AUSTRIA’S LARGEST GLACIER SKIING AREA
up to 3,210 m above sea level
++++ SNOW GUARANTEE FROM OCTOBER TO JUNE
++++ HIGHLIGHTS: Snowpark Stubai Zoo, BIG Family Stubai
Glacier, Powder Department Stubai Glacier
++++ FOR A GOURMET-BREAK: Restaurant Schaufelspitz
++++ CHILDREN UNDER 10 YEARS RIDE FREE
(when accompanied by a paying parent)
++++ STUBAI GLACIER ICE GROTTO
Mutterberg 2 · 6167 Neustift · Österreich · Tel. 0043 5226 8141 ·
NEU!
3S EISGRATBAHN
AB 22.10.2016
STG16089_inserat_gaestezeitung_welcome_170x120mm_de_en.indd 1 23.08.16 16:36
A new trend emerges
Despite of the tragic case, the pioneers back
then were not scared to continue skiing. Es-
pecially as the majority of them didn’t prac-
tice the sport in high alpine regions – steep
slopes weren’t really part of their repertoire.
Where there is a lot of athletes, competi-
tions are unavoidable: On the 9th of Janu-
ary 1895, the first competition took place in
Sistrans/Amras Castle, organised by the Aus-
trian Alpine Club founded in 1893. 15 skiers
took up the challenge, which from today’s
view resembles more cross-country skiing
than an actual ski race. Apparently, the 2.5
km long track had to be groomed because
of the unfavourable snow conditions. Max Duregger won with a time of
10 minutes and 15 seconds – and two minutes ahead of the runner-up. It
was the first and last competition for a while, as winters were particular-
ly snow-poor. Eventually, the first Tyrolean Championships took place in
Kitzbühel in 1905 and in 1909. After the initial resistance had been over-
come, the first school games were introduced, which gained more and
more participants over the years. Already after two years, the minister of
education declared the day of competition a school holiday.
The ball starts rolling
Before the outbreak of the First World War,
skiing in Innsbruck had developed quick-
ly and eventfully. St. Anton and Kitzbühel
played a significant role in the development
of the sport, while Innsbruck took also a
major part in it. Almost all ski and touring
areas known today were already disclosed
and defined (even though not quite devel-
oped as today). In 1914, Tyrol boasted 18
skiing clubs with 1213 members, however, downhill races were very ra-
re. The focus was on Norway and their skiing style.
Cross-country skiing and jumping were the two disciplines that were
often combined. Eventually, things started changing and downhill ski-
ing slowly became popular. However, direction gates still hadn’t been
introduced, so the riders had to choose the best line to get into the val-
ley themselves – locals obviously had an advantage. The demands for
solely alpine races became louder. The end of the 1920s with the first
Der Maler Alfons Siber – einer der ersten Skifahrer Tirols –
fertigte auch das erste Bild eines Skifahrers in Tirol an. //
The painter Alfons Siber – one of Tyrol’s first skiers –
also produced the first image of a skier in Tyrol.
©STADTMUSEUMHALL