We don’t need to reinvent winter, but we do need to adapt to new conditions \u2013 that was the tenor of exciting media discussions that took place in the run-up to the World Cup races at the Carat Congress Center in Gurgl\/\u00d6tztal. The course for winter sports has long been set and lies somewhere between innovation, sustainability, and the eternal passion for winter sports. Just in time for the promising debates, snowfall began in Gurgl in the \u00d6tztal valley, creating perfect conditions for the upcoming race weekend.<\/p>\n\n
The Media Day was all about change and brought together experts for TV panel discussions and podcasts with leading media outlets such as ORF Sport +, the Tiroler Tageszeitung newspaper, Germany’s largest weather platform wetter.com, and Joyn’s 4GAMECHANGERS format. Under the motto \u201cWinter sports can have a future,\u201d the prominent guests addressed the challenges facing winter sports: from climate change and social changes to the prospects for alpine racing. It became clear that the future of winter sports requires creative solutions, bold innovations, and a clear course toward sustainability.<\/p>\n\n
Hubert Siller (MCI Tourism) made it clear: \u201cGlobal warming is a fact, but we will still be able to ski in the future. So it’s not about reinventing winter, but about technological change, sustainable strategies, and adaptations.\u201d The latest mountain sports study has shown that there are numerous snow experts who ski more than 10 times a season. In addition, there is great potential among people who enjoy exercise but for whom active recreation, relaxation, and experiencing nature are the main priorities.<\/p>\n\n
The opening discussion in Obergurgl with Hubert Siller (MCI Tourism), Thomas Schroll (Freizeitticket Tirol), Lena \u00d6ller (Protect Our Winters), Karin Seiler (Managing Director of Tirol Werbung), and former ski racer Thomas Dre\u00dfen on the effects of climate change and necessary adjustments in the industry summed up the experts’ views: \u201cWe have to face reality and make winter sports sustainable\u2014before winter runs away from us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n
Karin Seiler highlighted the continuing popularity of winter sports: \u201c84 percent of winter visitors to Tyrol are looking for an active winter sports vacation.\u201d Skiing therefore remains by far the most important reason for taking a vacation, although enjoyment, regeneration, and cuisine are becoming increasingly important. The price and booking monitoring system developed by Tirol Werbung currently even shows a slight increase in demand compared to last winter. \u201cWinter sports also remain popular with locals. Sales of combined tickets such as the Freizeiticket Tirol have even increased this year,\u201d Thomas Schroll also emphasized. <\/p>\n\n
However, in view of climate and social change, the tourism industry has already made adjustments on many levels. Joint efforts towards sustainability are considerable, and there are numerous initiatives: Tyrol is on track, regions such as Seefeld and Kufstein carry the Austrian Ecolabel, and Tyrolean cable cars run on green electricity.<\/p>\n\n
And across all discussions, one thing became clear: the key to further ecological development lies in mobility, because emissions from travel to and from the resort account for 70% of emissions \u2013 calculated over an entire day of skiing.<\/p>\n\n
That is why, according to Seiler, we are pushing ahead with \u201cTirol auf Schiene\u201d (Tyrol on Track). However, public transport must be made much more convenient to use in the future, and products, services, and infrastructure must be improved. <\/p>\n\n
Afterwards, experts and visionaries gathered at the Joyn 4GAMECHANGERS TV studio to discuss the future of winter sports with a focus on \u201cinnovation and sustainability.\u201d Moderator Verena Schneider guided the conversation through exciting topics related to technological innovations, sustainable resource use, and future-proof solutions for alpine skiing. Guests included Roswitha Stadlober (\u00d6SV President), Theresa Haid (tourism expert and sustainability expert), Benjamin Kneisl (Chairman of \u00d6tztal Tourism and CEO of the Association of Tyrolean Tourism Associations), Thomas Dre\u00dfen, and Michi Freymann (SPURart Profi Selfmade-Ski).<\/p>\n\n
The wetter.com podcast entitled \u201cBetween freak weather and price wars \u2013 how affordable are winter sports today?\u201d focused on the financial challenges of winter sports. Presenter Daniela Kreck (wetter.com) and her guests, including Michaela Burger (Bergbahnen Hoch\u00f6tz), Reinhard Klier (Seilbahnsprecher Tirol), Mike Partel (initiator of KIDS ON SKI), Denise Seiling (meteorologist at wetter.com), and Lena \u00d6ller (Protect Our Winters), discussed how rising costs for ski passes, equipment, and sustainable infrastructure are affecting the accessibility of winter sports. Here, too, the tenor was clear: it must continue to be possible to get families and, above all, children excited about winter sports \u2013 affordable introductory offers would be crucial here.<\/p>\n\n
The crowning glory of the media day was the ORF Sport + Talk program \u201cThe Winter Sports Talk \u2013 Insights into the Ski World Cup and Outlook for the Ski World Championships in Austria.\u201d Host Fred Lentsch welcomed prominent guests such as Mario Stecher (\u00d6SV Sports Director), Alban Scheiber (Managing Director of Hochgurgler Liftgesellschaft, OK Chief Ski World Cup GURGL), Jack Falkner (Managing Director of Bergbahnen S\u00f6lden and OK Chief Ski World Cup S\u00d6LDEN), Franziska Gritsch (\u00d6SV ski racer), Martina Ertl (former German ski racer), and Norwegian ski star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. The experts and ski stars provided exciting insights into the current World Cup season and ventured a look ahead to the upcoming World Championships in Salzburg.<\/p>\n\n
\nIt is always an emotional highlight when the world’s elite compete in the \u00d6tztal valley \u2013 the World Cup slope is in absolutely top condition, said Alban Scheiber, head of the organizing committee for the races in Gurgl in the \u00d6tztal valley.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
Media day marks successful start to World Cup races in Gurgl<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
The media day was a fitting start to the World Cup races in Gurgl and provided valuable impetus and perspectives for the future of winter sports. The successful day not only made a sporting statement, but also underlined the importance of innovation and sustainability in an industry that constantly faces new challenges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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