Posted by Garrott Kuzzy, Lumi Experiences on Jun 8th 2023
Launching a World Cup sprint in a major city. Bring skiing to the people.
Dresden City Sprint World Cup - Torsten Püschel Interview
In the lead-up to the Minneapolis World Cup, there are some parallels to the City Sprint weekend in Dresden, Germany. Both are urban events, relatively new to the World Cup circuit. Lumi Experiences founder Garrott Kuzzy initially wrote this interview in the lead-up to the 2020 Minneapolis World Cup. Four years later, the World Cup is coming back to Minneapolis and the insights around what it takes to host an urban World Cup event still apply. Enjoy!
What are the motivations and goals behind hosting a World
Cup? What does it take to get a new event on the calendar? What has the Dresden
World Cup learned and how is the event changing after the first two years of
their five-year contract?
We talk with Torsten Püschel, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Dresden World
Cup to learn more about hosting a City Sprint World Cup. Püschel grew up in
Dresden as an elite athlete when the city was part of East Germany. He
has spent the past 20 years working as a sports commentator for German
television and radio, including the past six Olympic Games.
Launching a World Cup City Sprint: “Bring Skiing to the People”
Garrott Kuzzy:
What was your inspiration for bringing a World Cup event to Dresden?
Torsten Püschel:
First and foremost, because Dresden is my home. My co-founder (René Kindermann,
also a German television sports commentator) and I are enthusiastic fans of our
hometown. In 2014, the Mayor of Dresden, Helma Orosz, came to us and said:
‘Torsten & René, you both travel the world for sporting events. Do you have
any ideas for promoting the city in the winter?’ Dresden is known for the
Striezelmarkt, Germany’s oldest Christmas Market, in December. In the spring
and summer, it is full of cyclists and travelers. But things were a little
quiet in January.
René and I were announcing at the World Cup in Lahti,
Finland, where the Nordic venue is within walking distance of the city. We
thought, ‘Hey, how about we host a Nordic World Cup in Dresden?’
We had conversations for over a year with all possible constituents before
announcing our idea. We didn’t want anyone to feel left out. This was one of
the keys to the success of the event.
The regional ski clubs loved the idea of bringing the World Cup to the people
in the city, rather than bringing people to a more remote ski area in the Iron
Mountains (Erzgebirge mountain range about 50 miles from Dresden, on the border
with the Czech Republic). That also fit with the German Ski Federation’s
mission to bring more winter sports to the cities.
GK: Once you decided you wanted to host a World Cup, how did
you make it happen? What were the challenges?
TP: There were three big challenges. First, we had to find a weekend that
fit into the FIS calendar. Second, we had to get all of the permits from the
city. There were over 10 different departments who had to sign off on our
proposal. Finally, we had to achieve the FIS requirements like organizing
accommodation, paying for athlete’s travel expenses and, of course, to build a
venue in the city. It took over three years from having the idea in fall of
2014, to approval by FIS in May 2017, to actually hosting the event in January
2018.
GK: You mentioned that Dresden is known for its cycling. Rock climbers are also
likely familiar with the famous sandstone Bastei rock formations. Cross country
skiing is not as synonymous with the region. What are winters like in Dresden?
TP: Dresden itself is cold, but does not always have snow in the winter.
Instead, people typically travel around 45 minutes into the surrounding
Erzgebirge mountains to ski. Rather than make people travel to snow, our
inspiration was to bring the World Cup to the people.
Creating a Sustainable Event
GK: Has it been hard hosting a World Cup in a city without consistent snow? Are
you taking into account environmental concerns?
TP: Creating an environmentally sustainable World Cup has actually been one of
the most interesting parts of the project. From the beginning, we wanted to
make sure the event was ‘green’--in the environmental sense at least. FIS
actually has a Green Event Manual. We used the manual, along with the input
from several local, environmentally focused non-profits, to make the event as
sustainable as possible.
For example, it is actually better to host a city event, than a rural event in
the mountains because everything is so central. The athlete hotel is located
right next to the course, so racers and coaches can walk to the venue. Tickets
for spectators include public transportation.
FIS now requires that every World Cup venue has snowmaking, so every event is
making snow--not just city sprints. We make our snow at the Dresden Airport
with non-potable water collected from the roof of the airport. Snow guns make
the snow inside an airport hanger, so no moisture is lost to wind or sun. The
energy used to make the snow is 100% renewable; from hydro-, solar- and wind
power.
It takes about a month to make all the snow for the event,
which we can even make in temperatures above freezing. Two days before the
event, we transfer the snow from the airport to the venue. A short 650m snow
loop has several advantages. First, it means we do not need to make much snow.
Second, racers ski two laps, which is more exciting for spectators. On the
team-sprint day, racers ski past the spectators 72 times--more than any other
World Cup event.
The total carbon required for our snow production is about the same as one
person in Dresden would use in two months of normal living.
A Family Winter Weekend
GK: In Minneapolis, the race organizers are creating a four-day festival around
the World Cup. How do you use the snow when World Cup racers aren’t racing?
TP: One of our goals is to help put Dresden on the world stage. The course runs
along the banks of the Elbe River with the city skyline in the background. Of
course, promoting the city and sport is a big part of our event.
As part of bringing skiing to the people, we leave the course set-up for 10
days. After the race weekend, we open the track to everyone. Elementary school
kids come during the week to learn to ski. Tobias Angerer (Olympic Bronze
Medalist and two-time World Cup Overall Champion) has connections to Dresden
and spends the week teaching lessons. The German National Paralympic team
teaches skiing to people with disabilities. A junior championship event brings
over 450 kids for sprint races. We also host an event for the Special Olympics.
The hill is used for sledding. The VIP hospitality ‘tent,’ which is actually a
beautiful, temporary, two-story glass building, is perfect for companies to
host team-building events, which is used for all 10 days as well.
Looking toward the future
GK: After two years, what have you learned? How will you evolve as you move
forward?
TP: For the event, we will continue to add activities. For example, we will
have a sponsor village next year, where people can sample Gruyère cheese, or
try laser biathlon. We will also lower the ticket prices, aiming for cinema
pricing--where spectators can access the event for the same price as a movie
ticket. We really want this to become a family winter weekend.
GK: What is the athlete perspective of the event?
TP: Athletes have appreciated how firm and fast the course was; and how well
the conditions held. That was very positive feedback. They also appreciate
being able to walk, or run, from their hotel to the course.
Regarding the loop itself, the qualifying times were slower than FIS wants, so
we are shortening the course by about 200m and making the whole venue more
compact--which also improves spectating. We are reversing the direction of the
course, putting the uphill at the beginning to try spreading out the field
more. We are also adding more berms and bumps to make the course more
challenging for athletes and exciting for spectators.
GK: Why should someone travel to Dresden for the World Cup?
TP: There are several reasons. First, the event is quickly becoming a tradition
in Dresden. The local community is excited to host the event. People are very
friendly excited to host an international event and spectators. Second,
everything is within walking distance. It’s special to be able to experience
the World Cup during the day and the city of Dresden, including their
restaurants and culture at night. Most importantly, the event is a lot of fun.
There is opportunity to interact with some of the best skiers in the world and
watch them compete on one of of the most iconic World Cup courses in front of
the city skyline.
GK: Thank you, Torsten. Good luck as you prepare for the World Cup next winter.
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Do you want to cheer on your favorite racers in Minneapolis this winter, with special access and insider insights? The trip is filling quickly: only four more spots available. Reach out soon to info@lumiexperiences.com to see the detailed Minneapolis World Cup trip itinerary and sign up by Friday, June 30th (or before the trip is full!) to get the early-booking discount of $300 per person.
See you on the trail soon,
Garrott
