2011 WU Erzurum, Test Events

 Turkey sent its complete national ski team for this FIS Palandoken Ski Cup

Less than one year before the opening of the 25th Winter Universiade (January 27th to February 6th, 2011), the city of Erzurum, Turkey is hosting these days some important test events. Indeed, as you probably know this region has no long tradition in the organization of big winter sports competitions especially speaking about ice sports.

That’s why Erzurum will host from 8th to 14th of March, the IIHF ice hockey world championship U-18. This one week tournament is gather teams from China, Chinese Taipei, Bulgaria Turkey and Mongolia. It is already the second ice hockey tournament organized in Erzurum and we can see already the difference in terms of knowledge.

Friday, March 12th, the FIS Palandoken Ski Cup will start on the Palandoken ski resort which will be used during the Universiade as a back up venue for alpine skiing but as the main venue for snowboard and freestyle skiing. All the slopes were already certified by FIS and are ready to welcome international competitions.

This continental cup will serve as a test event for the people of the Turkish Ski Federation and those of the Organizing Committee who will be involved in ski competitions during our World University Games.

Palandoken will also host the snowboard FIS race on March 13th and 14th. We will tell you more about this competition in our next FISU News.

This morning, Mr. Hans Falsher who is the FISU Technical Chair for alpine skiing made an inspection at the Konakli ski resort (which will be the main venue for alpine skiing during the Universiade) together with Mr. Muhtar Kurt, Chair of the Technical Committee within the Erzurum OC, Mr. Ahmet Demir the Alpine Skiing Competition Manager and Mr. Naim Gül the Konakli Venue Manager.

Mr. Falsher was visiting this brand new venue for the first time and he was very happy with the work done over there. Now, spring and summer are coming but still there is a lot of work to do before getting ready for next winter.

Anyway Mr. Falsher is very confident about the way the ski competition of the universiade is prepared.

(Words and pictures by Yvan Dufour)

 Dr.Ozer Ayik, President of the Turkish Ski Federation opening the Palandoken Ski Cup

Hans Falsher, FISU Technical Chair for Alpine Skiing together with Muhtar Kurt (right), Chair of the Technical Committee within the Erzurum Organizing Committee, inspecting the Konackli venue