Upgraded Skki track means faster turns and deeper carves. Event to be filmed in 3D.
The Trikke world’s most well-known Skki competition, the 5th Annual Fakro Cup International Trikke Skki Championship, hits the slopes today and runs through Sunday in Muszyna, Poland.
Friday is a day of practice runs on the adventured-filled Skki Cross track, while Saturday is the day to put all that practice to the test in the weekend’s first competitive race, the Trikke Skki Extreme Cross. On Sunday, it’s a full day of practicing, then racing, this time on the giant slalom track of Wierchomla.
And, no, the fun isn’t reserved for men only. At least two women will be among the competitors, according to Joris de Luij, operations manager for Trikke Europe, who gave TrikkeWorld the following rundown on the 2012 edition of the Fakro Cup:
TrikkeWorld Magazine: How did the Fakro Cup get started?
Joris de Luij: After our first Trikke Skki race ever in Switzerland, Tomasz Dziedzic of Trikke Poland set a goal to organize an even better race there. He had just started with Trikke and now, Poland is one of the best countries for the complete Trikke product line. With a large Trikke Skki fan group there, it was only logical that the next race should be held in Poland. This is already the fifth year in a row that Skki riders come to compete in Poland and we are just getting started.
TWM: What makes a competitive Skki event a great competitive Skki event?
JDL: You need more then riders and Skki’s. You need a venue. This is where the sponsor’s name “Fakro” comes in. The owner of Fakro (one of the bigger brands for windows and doors) has a special love for the winter sports and the Trikke Skki especially. To share this love, he created a track on the Polish mountains near Krakow. The track is open for Trikke Skki and special sledges. Once he heard of the idea to host the international Trikke Skki championship in Poland, he was all ears. To support us, he opened up the venue, plus a hotel and buses to transport riders and their Skki’s to the mountain.
TWM: Who comes to the Fakro Cup? Where do they come from and what can they expect?
JDL: We see riders from all over Europe and even the world coming to compete in Poland. In the past, we’ve even had riders from the USA, Mexico and Brazil. This year we’ll have riders from eight different countries competing for the Fakro Cup!
TWM: Break down the events for us.
JDL: The competition is divided in two parts: Giant Slalom and Trikke Skki Extreme Cross. The giant slalom is similar to the giant slalom in “normal” skiing. Riders race in three heats to determine the winner.
The Trikke Skki Extreme Cross is not like anything we know from the ski or snowboard world. It’s best explained as a go-kart track that has been draped over a forest covered mountain. It’s a narrow race track with hairpin, corksscrew and S-turns, with a bridge to cross a calm stream. It feels like a mystical place from the movies, but one on which you can carve the Skki as it was built to do!
TWM: The go-kart track looks fierce. So does the competition. Is the Fakro Cup as big a shot of adrenaline and testosterone as the photos and videos make it seem? Is there a woman’s division?
JDL: The Fakro Cup started as a family event with a lot of easy runs and lots of practice and play time; the races where just a side show. As the rider’s experience grew, so did the races. This year, the Giant Slalom will be raced on a steeper and longer track, and even the Skki track for the Extreme Cross has been upgraded for faster turns and deeper carves. But even then, there will be still two women competing in the races!
TWM: Which country or countries, if any, dominate the standings? Is there a sense of national pride among competitors?
JDL: There is not much national pride among competitors; it’s more a sharing of our common love for Trikke and getting the best lines and times. It’s still as it should be: may the best man win!
TWM: What made you decide to shoot the Fakro Cup in 3D? Where can folks see all the cool videos and photos of the action?
JDL: The Fakro Cup is covered by four camera crews: adrenaline TV, Sport Poland, Ski-magazine and NextTv. NextTv will be shooting the race in 3D and it will actually be the first sport event in Poland to be filmed in 3D. The race report in 3D can be viewed online after the weekend here.
TWM: Anything else you like to add?
JDL: Hopefully I can find some time to give an update. It’s time for a small beer now.
Greetz from Poland
