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Skiing slides into the Castle

Prague landmark to host cross-country competition

December 26th, 2007 issue

By Patrick Sisson

For the Post
Exercise around Prague Castle usually means trudging up numerous stone steps or a change in the blue-clad honor guard.
But things will be a bit different on Dec. 30 when an atypical event is expected to bring over 150 of the world’s best cross-country skiers including Czechs Martin Koukal and Dušan Kožíšek to Hradčanské námésti to compete in full view of Prague Castle.
The E.ON Prague Ski 2007 part of the FIS Tour de Ski and the Cross-Country World Cup will also create a festival-like atmosphere at the race site supplementing the main event with a cultural program of musical performances and children’s events.
 “E.ON Prague Ski is meant to bring skiing to the people by utilizing a unique urban location” said Tereza Rákosníková of the Kentaura Sports Marketing Agency which along with the energy company E.ON and the Czech Skiing Union (SLČR) helped organize the event.
Unique barely begins to describe the challenges of hosting the event at a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because the Castle’s guard must march around the square at noon the course and spectator area need to be rerouted so sentry duty can continue during qualifying rounds.
More difficult will be covering the urban course in a thick layer of snow during late December when temperatures hover near freezing and sustained snowfall is no guarantee. The organizers may ship in snow from Horní Vltavice (over 150 kilometers away) or create it with a snow machine that uses liquid nitrogen. Either way the snow would be collected at Strahov Stadium on Petřín Hill and then moved to the castle in smaller cars.
During the main event a rapid series of one-kilometer sprints cross-country skiers will take two laps around an oval-shaped track that begins in the square in front of Salmovský palace. Qualifying races will whittle down the field for the finale which begins at 2 p.m.
The top-three finishers in the finals in both the men’s and women’s divisions will split 10000 Swiss francs (157000 Kč/$8747) with 5000 going to first 3000 to second and 2000 to third. Winners will also accrue points for the Tour de Ski which will begin in Nové Město west Moravia Dec. 28 and end in Val di Fiemme Italy on Jan. 6.
“Because this is part of the tour spectators will see the world’s best skiers” Rákosníková added.
Prague has previously witnessed some quirky athletic events including the Red Bull Crashed Ice 2005 (a winter sport hybrid that’s like an urban Rollerball on skates) which took place in the neighborhood near the castle. But none have happened so close to the castle grounds especially skiing according to David Šebek who works for the Castle’s Administration.
Between races ski fans can also listen to an interview with Czech cross-country skier Kateřina Neumannová who at the age of 33 became the oldest competitor to win a gold medal in the 30-km freestyle mass start during the 2006 Olympics. In addition spectators will be able to watch music and magic performances and participate in family-friendly events like cross-country ski races for children and a snowball-tossing competition.
 
Patrick Sisson can be reached at
sports@praguepost.com


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