Kids, what a beautiful festival!
I can’t believe it, but the second edition of “SKIDS – The Snow Festival” is already over and it was just mind-blowing!
Dear Ski-Kids,
I want to thank you dearly because the second SKIDS festival edition was awesome – because of you! Every single day, every minute, every moment will stick in my mind. Would you like to know more about it? Then I invite you to read my Skids-diary.
Day 1 – Thursday, 28th March 2024
I’ve never crawled out of bed as quickly as today…why? Simply because it’s the starting day of SKIDS! And on this day so much is on the schedule!
I got dressed, had my breakfast und then I went on the slope. 300 kids came on Rosskopf to train with me on 4 giant slalom courses that were on offer. Manfred Mölgg and Elisa Platino, two ski professionals, gave us feedback and a lot of tips how to ski even faster. We tried to memorize the slope in order to be ready for the race on the next day. Unfortunately, the weather was not the best, but in the end it didn’t matter.
After the training our parents and coaches went to the waxing course where they could learn how to prepare our skis even more professionally. I, in the meantime, got ready for the parade, together with many other kids: 28 associations marched through the old part of the city of Sterzing wearing the most beautiful outfits. Some of them represented the most iconic sights of Sterzing with their dresses, others had brought a self-made snow cannon, which even produced kind of snow, others sang, laughed, or shouted. In the end, all of us were really enjoying ourselves. The kids from the WSV Sterzing put the most effort in their costumes and therefore won a beautiful prize, namely Energia Pura racing suits. After the official opening ceremony on the city square I fell in my bed, completely exhausted, but also a tingling in my stomach, because tomorrow it goes on….
Day 2 – Friday, 29th March 2024
Good morning everyone! Sprinty is back!
Do you know, what I did this morning even before slipping into my race suit? I unpacked my starter package which I got yesterday and there were so many cool gadgets in the SKIDS gym bag: a Skids-headband, a Völkl goggle protector, a drawing pad, my bib number and much more. But I had to hurry, because I needed to get as quickly as possible to the cableway, up the mountain to the giant slalom race. I concentrated really hard on analyzing the course and got a bit angry about the bad weather. But then I did the warm-up with my friends so that the fog and snow didn’t bother any of us any longer. It was a difficult race, nevertheless everyone reached the finish line and was celebrated like a little hero because the kids were fast, courageous and motivated. Our parents and coaches were also waiting, as well as my friend Mathilda from the dairy farm in Sterzing who brought us tons of yoghurt which was exquisite!!!
There was so much to do, not to forget the medal ceremony at the end of the day, at which so many beautiful experience prizes were awarded to all small heroes. The fastest ones of each category could win a 2-day-ski camp with World Cup athletes at the Schneeberg Family & Spa Resort in Ridnaun, whereas the youngest athletes of the under 8 and under 10 category won a Völkl set of skies, and the kids that belong to the overall fastest association can look forward to a Völkl ski test day with a World Cup athlete. What an extraordinary day and great celebration – and SKIDS is not finished yet, tomorrow it goes on! I need to sleep though first – have a good night!
But since I was as hungry as a bear I tried to get as quickly as possible to the city square where the pasta party had already started. My friends and I ate a lot to get our strength back because soon after the rope-pulling event started in which 32 teams participated. My friend Anton from the Schneeberg Family & Spa Resort in Ridnaun had also come to Sterzing to cheer for and support all the kids together with me. It was fantastic! Do you know who the strongest kids were? The ones form the ASV Vinschger Oberland and as a reward the whole group can go to the World Cup races at Kronplatz 2025 for 2 days and cast a glance also behind the scenes. In the gym, right next to the city square, the “High5-Games” were already waiting. There we got rid of our last energy and could put our agility, sportiness, and flexibility to the test.
Day 3 – Saturday, 30th March 2024
I feel relaxed and am looking forward to day number 3. Today I can again strap on my skies and even go at the start as a forerunner of the team parallel event. I need to show all kids how it works, although I’m pretty sure they know it better than me. I am the one to open today’s race, in which 38 teams fight for the victory. We could even enjoy some sunrays for a very short time – how beautiful! Right – left, right – left…till the finish line. I enjoyed it so much! Would you like to know what I loved most? That all kids were so happy to take part in a race together with their friends.
They won as a team and the fastest team of the day comes from Hallein, followed by SC Gallio and SC Cortina. All three teams won an excursion to a World Cup race next Winter, either to Cortina, Kitzbühel or Alta Badia. What a cool prize!!!
I am so happy but at the same time also a little sad, because I can see my SKI-KIDS only next year. In the meantime, I am going to look at the many great pictures of the “Skids – The Snow Festival” and indulge in my fantastic reminiscences.
See you soon, dear kids, your Sprinty!