| NEWS | BIOGRAPHIES | EVENTS | INSIDE FIS | MARKETING | MEDICAL | |
CROSS-COUNTRY
SKI JUMPING
NORDIC COMBINED
ALPINE SKIING
FREESTYLE SKIING
SNOWBOARD
OTHERS
SPEED SKIING
GRASS SKIING
TELEMARK
MASTERS
CALENDAR
RESULTS
STATISTICS
LIVE TIMING
FIS HISTORY
FIS Newsflash articles 2012-2013
Find your news
33rd Cross-Country Masters World Cup in Asiago - a great ski festival
Asiago, situated in the Province of Vicenza (ITA), was the host of the 33rd Cross-Country Masters World Cup which took place from 14th-23rd February 2013. After Toblach, Folgaria and Brusson, the event was carried out on Italian soil for the fourth time.
Overall, 1161 participants from 26 countries made up the third largest starting field which has ever participated in a Cross-Country Masters World Cup. The biggest nation was Italy with 231 skiers while Russia and the United States featured 182 and 127 respectively.
As a special highlight, the event saw its official opening by the most successful Cross-Country athlete of all times, Bjørn Dæhlie from Norway.
The spectators on-site were able to enjoy many former Olympic stars battling it out on the tracks of Asiago. One of them was Cristian Zorzi (ITA), Olympic champion and silver medallist in Torino (ITA) 2006 and Salt-Lake City (USA) 2002, and silver medallist in the individual sprint in Lahti (FIN) in 2001. In addition, the event saw many famous faces such as Gianfranco Polvara, Roberto de Zolt, Bruno Carrara (all ITA) and the first ever overall World Cup champion, Pierre Harvey (CAN) and father of current Nordic Combined top athlete, Alex.
With regard to the medals tally, Russia was the dominating force with 117 medals (38 gold, 46 silver, 33 bronze) followed by the teams from Italy and Finland with 68 and 55 medals respectively. Overall, skiers from 16 different nations have won at least one medal. Some of the most outstanding sportspeople were Elena Mizonova (RUS), Guido Masieri and Giampalo Englaro (both ITA), Hagen Finn Magnar and Ola Kvaale (both NOR) who all clinched four gold medals.
In addition to the seven competitions consisting of three in classical technique, three in free technique and a relay race, the Masters World Cup included diverse cultural events including trips to Venice and Vicenza, which were specifically appreciated among the athletes.
In the Closing Ceremony, which rounded up the event on a sunny last competition day, the flag was officially passed on to the Organising Committee of Pillerseetal (AUT) which will be staging the Masters World Cup in 2014.
The World Masters Cross-Country Ski Association would like to express a special thanks to the Asiago Organising Committee and its 200 volunteers who did an outstanding work in organising and hosting the event, topped with warm hospitality.