Holiday Magazine 2023

17 Time to stay … FOR

17 Time to stay … FOR ADVENTURERS SCHIERKE WINTER SPORTS WEEKS From igloo parties, curling and snowshoe hikes: Active on the way with a lot of variety. The Schierke Winter Sports Weeks show once again: winter sports have a long tradition here. The toboggan offspring can start. Starting signal for the bobsleigh run Already in 1907 Schierke could call a bob run its own. Until the end of the fifties numerous championships were held on this special natural track. Once it was one of the fastest tracks in Germany, but it also had its pitfalls: It was only fully functional when the temperatures were constantly below zero. With the opening of the new all-season track, Schierke is now making itself independent from Jack Frost. It was a laborious task to apply layer after layer of a mixture of snow and water on the old bobsleigh run in order to be able to sled at all. The fact that an even result could not be achieved with this manual work is understandable and so it was said at that time among Harz bobsleigh specialists: „If you can ride here, you can do it anywhere”. This dependence on the weather made a year-round continuous training in Schierke impossible. And the cradle of German bobsleigh and luge actually is in the Harz Mountains: In fact, bobsleigh athletes from Schierke co-founded the German Bobsleigh Association in Berlin in November 1911, the forerunner of today‘s Bobsleigh and Sledding Association for Germany (BSD). Some bobsleigh legends also come from the Harz, such as world champion Toni Eggert, whose father and grandfather have ridden the curves of the old Schierke bobsleigh run themselves. Tatjana Hüfner is another talented luger from the Harz Mountains. The athlete, who trains with RC Blankenburg, was invited to do the official inauguration run in December 2021 and try out the new bobsleigh track. The conclusion of the Olympic champion and eight-time World Champion was throughout positive. With its 300 m length and quite tricky sections, the new Schierke bobsleigh run now promises a year-round tobogganing experience. The seven curves can be ridden on rollers in summer and on skids in winter. Especially the Harz tobogganing offspring will enjoy the new track – long training trips to Bavaria or Thuringia are no longer necessary and make the sport more attractive again - for the Harz luge clubs in Schierke, Ilsenburg and Blankenburg thus a genuine benefit. ©Polyluchs Kreativagentur * * * * * * Igloo construction as family fun WINTER SPORT TIPS TRAIL INFO wintersport.harzinfo.de TOBOGGANING two small toboggan slopes at the spa park and parking garage, one bigger slope „the grandmother toboggan run“ SKATING Courses in the Schierker Feuerstein Arena, Skates can be rented. Skating is possible from November to March. SNOWSHOEING A real insider tip and the best way to conquer all paths even in deep snow, Rental possible in the village, also guided hikes EQUIPMENT RENTAL complete cross-country equipment, sledges, snowshoes at the „Ski- and sled rental Riemenschneider“ & rental at the „Holiday Resort Zum Wildbach““ WINTER SPORTS COURSES guided snowshoe hikes, cross-country skiing courses, ice skating school ©Polyluchs Kreativagentur It was the time of the golden twenties when the perhaps most glorious period of winter sports began for Schierke. Snow enthusiasts and tourists were attracted to the „St. Moritz of the North“. Later on the most modern slalom slope in Europe at that time, the Eckerloch ski jump, the natural ice stadium and an excellent infrastructure attracted thousands of spectators to major events such as the „Winter Games“ in 1934 or the GDR 1st German Winter Sports Championships in the small town in the Harz Mountains. The idea to develop Schierke as an attractive holiday resort has been pursued ever since. In the meantime numerous new highlights were created in summer and winter. Between January and February these certainly include Skating in the Ice Arena ©Schierker Feuerstein Arena the winter sports weeks, which have secured their fixed place in the Schierker event calendar. Guests, excursionists and locals can look forward to a varied program during this time. Ideally, activities around the white splendor are the centre of attention: Igloo building, guided snowshoe hikes and cross-country ski courses. The Schierker Feuerstein Arena invites you to several ice discos or scores with curling. The torch hike through the nocturnal Harz has spooky potential, and a very special experience might be the professional abseiling at the Schnarcherklippen. The annual program promises a lot of variety and is a great opportunity to fill the Schierke winter sports tradition with life. Groomed ski trails for cross-country fans ©Polyluchs Kreativagentur ©Polyluchs Kreativagentur ©Polyluchs Kreativagentur Guests can also look forward to a special highlight. For special events, like the winter sports weeks, the bob run opens for visitors. Who dares? The bobsleigh run promises toboggan fun. Conscientious preparation for the downhill run