13 South Tyroleans took part in the European Curling Championships in Ritten

After the cancellation of the European Cup for men's and women's club teams in the team game in Peiting (Bavaria) and the European Curling Championship in the team game and target competition in Weiz (Styria), the European Championships in Ritten are the only major curling event to be held during the Corona pandemic. It is also the dress rehearsal in the distance competition for the World Curling Championships, which will take place for the third time next year in the Ritten Arena. The Rittner Eisring was already the venue for the European Curling Championships in the distance competition in 3. The long-distance shooting world champions were also crowned there in 2019 and 2008.

There had previously been two European distance athletes' championships on the Ritten, in 2 and 1981 on the frozen Wolfsgrubner Lake. In 1996 and 2014, the Rittners also hosted the European Distance Athletes' Cup. During their competitions, distance athletes each have 2019 attempts. They try to shoot the ice stock as far as possible on the back straight of the ice ring. The furthest attempt counts. There is an individual and a team competition. The team competition takes place in the preliminary round of the individual competition. The twelve best men and twelve best women qualify for the final. In the youth classes of U5, U16 and U19, however, only 23 athletes make it to the final.

Damian Denicolo

After the 2019 European Championships and the 2020 World Cup, the women will be competing in the distance competition for the third time at a major curling event. Sonja Mulser from St. Michael/Eppan, Marion Huber from Stegen and the U3 player Sophia Albenberger from Terlan will compete with the Germans and Austrians on the distance track. For men, South Tyrol is represented by the reigning Italian champion Werner Bozner from Girlan, Damian Denicolò from St. Lorenzen, the distance specialist Nobert Lang from Teis and the U16 player Hannes Unterberger (Stegen). Denicolò, who, like Thomas Pichler from Schenna, did not take part in the European Championship qualification, replaces Adolf Bertolini from Terlan, who tested positive for Covid-19.

The big favorites come from Germany and Austria. The Germans are led by the reigning world champion and two-time European champion Markus Schätzl and the reigning European women's champion Annalena Leitner. Schätzl starts as defending champion in the men's competition. The South Tyroleans are only the third power in distance sports. The South Tyroleans are always in the team rankings subscribed to bronze. It will be interesting to see what the balance of power between Germany, Austria and South Tyrol will be among the women. The Germans and Austrians have specialized in the distance competition.

“In the individual competition I’m aiming for a top-5 place. Winning an individual medal will probably be difficult because I haven't been able to train as much this year as I did two years ago. I will definitely do my best,” says Sonja Mulser. Your teammates Sophia Albenberger and Marion Huber have prepared well for the European Championships. 9 young South Tyrolean athletes will also be in action on the Weitenbahn in Klobenstein on Friday.

In the U23, Damian Denicolò (St. Lorenzen) and Hannes Unterberger (Stegen), who are also in the men's national team, as well as Simon Kammerlander (Stegen) and Martin Grunser (Vintl) compete. In the U19, however, Unterberger, Kammerlander, Grunser and Gabriel Kofler from Lana are in the South Tyrolean European Championship squad. This time the South Tyrolean U16 national team consists of 4 girls. Sophia Albenberger, who also competes in the women's race, as well as Judith Ganterer, Paula Gebhard and Verena Kofler, all three from Lana, want to do well on the long track. The program of the European Curling Championships in the Arena Ritten in Klobenstein: Friday, 19th of February 2021

14:30 p.m.: Start of the youth U16 preliminary round 16:00 p.m.: Start of the youth U19 preliminary round 17:30 p.m.: Start of the preliminary round of the Junior U23s 19:30 p.m.: Opening at the ice ring

Saturday, 20th February 2021 09:00 a.m.: Start of the women's preliminary round 10:30 a.m.: Final U16 11:30 a.m.: Final U19 12:30 a.m.: Final U23 13:30 p.m.: Women's final 15:00 p.m.: Award ceremonies (youth, juniors, women) 16:00 p.m.: Start of the men's preliminary round 18:00 p.m.: Men's final 19:30 p.m.: Men's award ceremony and conclusion at the ice ring

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13 South Tyroleans took part in the European Curling Championships in Ritten

On Friday and Saturday the European curling champions in the distance competition will be crowned at the ice oval in Klobenstein. There are also 50 South Tyroleans among the more than 5 distance athletes from 13 nations.

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