Ski & Golf World Championships: an unusual challenge / Sports aces meet in Zell am See-Kaprun this May

Strength, stamina, and a sense of balance: these are qualities that winter sports athletes need in order to succeed in the Alpine giant slalom. On snow-covered slopes, they curve around the elastic gates - record times can only be achieved by reaching one's bodily limit. Limits are also explored in golfing, but entirely different qualities are in demand here. In this sport, the pick of the bunch distinguish themselves by their calm and patience, coordination and instinct. They have to keep their concentration at the highest possible level up until the last hole. But which skiers can swing their putters with just as much skill? Which golfer can score points even on skis?

From 17th to 21st May, 2006 these questions will be answered when the 'Europa-Sportregion Zell am See-Kaprun' once again hosts the unique 'Ski & Golf World Championships'. A good handicap or a superb technique in giant slalom alone is not sufficient here: for this special challenge the participants need both. Only the combination offers a chance of overall victory. The best three 'combined athletes' will take home the coveted World Championships trophies in the end.

The event starts in Zell Stadtplatz at 6 pm on 17th May. After the official opening ceremony the competitor's numbers for the skiing competition are to be distributed. Kitzsteinhorn, still covered in snow, is the venue for this competition the next day. Up until 13.30 the skiers are going to fight for the best running times on the flaky white slopes of the glacier. Those who come in among the first here have already 'won half the battle'.

Day three and four of the Ski & Golf World Championships will be marked by fairway, wood, and iron: the field starts into a different kind of competition on the Championships courses in the midst of the Alps. Only players whose handicap is at least -18 and who are members of a regular golf club are admitted to the two 18-hole courses. They have to master the course twice. Added up with the running time of the giant slalom, the result crowns the World Champion.

This champion might be bearing a famous name this year: three absolute sporting aces, football star Andreas Herzog and Austria's Olympic Champions Michaela Dorfmeister and Felix Gottwald, are getting ready to win the title in the 'Europa-Sportregion Zell am See-Kaprun'. A strong field of sporting amateurs is going to make that as hard as possible for them – everybody has the same chances here.

The 'Europa-Sportregion' has created an attractive holiday package for all visitors who love sports, would like to participate in the competition or just come and watch. Until the end of September a package called 'Golf und Gipfelblick' ('Golf and a View from the Top') takes visitors to the region's golf courses for prices from 407 euros. Apart from seven overnight stays in a star-winning hotel or apartment, the 'Golf Alpin Pass' is included. It opens the gates of 38 golf courses in Austria.

More information on the Ski & Golf World Championships can be found on the Internet at www.europasportregion.info or at www.skigolfwm.com .


Contact Europa-Sportregion
Europa Sportregion Marketing GmbH
Guest Service
Phone +43 (0)6542 - 770 0
welcome(at)europasportregion.info
http://www.europasportregion.info

Press contact
knoefler-journalist | media and communications
Mr. Benjamin Knöfler
Phone +49 (0)6028 - 80729 0
esr(at)knoefler.de
http://www.knoefler-journalist.de


General Information:
With 13,500 beds and two million overnight stays per year, the 'Europa-Sportregion Zell am See - Kaprun' is one of the most important tourism centres in Austria. In winter as in summer, guests find all kinds of leisure activities to choose from. For ski fans there are 130 kilometres of finest pistes in thick powder snow. In the summer months Zell am See and Kaprun captivate with ideal conditions for more than 40 different kinds of sports - from hiking and golfing, cycling and all water sports to extreme sports like canyoning and, last not least, summer skiing on the glacier of Kitzsteinhorn. In recent years the region has also hosted many races of the Mountain Bike World Cup. In 2002 it was the venue of the UCI World Championships of Mountain Biking.

This release was published on openPR.