Competing in the Most Extreme Conditions: the 2006 FULDA Challenge

19th January 2006

It is a sporting challenge in the cold of the Arctic. The sixth FULDA Challenge will take place in the Canadian Yukon Territory from January 29 th to February 4 th. FULDA brand spokeswoman Isolde Holderied will attend this year’s spectacular competition once more.

Participants from all over the world are travelling to Canada at the end of January to compete against each other at the FULDA challenge. Events include hovercraft races, mountain bike and canoe races as well as a half marathon, to name but a few. The final highlight of this extreme competition is a gruelling mountain run. The competing athletes will have to go to their limit if they want to endure this competition.

Last October, over 70 athletes signed up for the qualification for the FULDA challenge in Sulden am Ortler in Italy. The best of them can now look forward to 2500 thrilling kilometres of ice-covered terrain where temperatures around minus 50 degrees Celsius are not unusual. Snow storms, blizzards and virtually impassable areas can only be mastered with great team spirit, skilfulness and a good sense of orientation. The extreme athletes will journey from Whitehorse to Dawson City.

Isolde will travel to Canada as brand and team spokeswoman. Part of her job is to attend to the media representatives and to demonstrate to the athletes how to handle their equipment and vehicles in these icy conditions. “These are very pleasant duties,” says Isolde. “I’m sure this year the FULDA challenge will be yet another unique challenge. Many participants aren’t used to the extreme conditions of this competition. All participants are, however, highly motivated, in top physical condition and all of them bring with them the necessary willpower. I’m sure it will be an exciting competition.”

Eight national teams will be travelling to Canada and this year’s line-up also features some prominent athletes, such as canoeing Olympic gold medallist Birgit Fischer, former boxing world champion Sven Ottke and long jump Olympic gold medallist Heike Drechsler.

back