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Eskau to ski at home Nordic World Cup
Despite her preparations for handcycling at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Andrea Eskau will take the special opportunity to compete in Finsterau, Germany. 08 Nov 2015
At the press conference: Andrea Eskau (athlete; multiple gold medal winner and world champion), Benjamin Schieler (press spokesman of the Nordic Paraski Team Germany), Ernst Kandlbinder (mayor of Mauth), Christian Eder (chairman of SV Finsterau) and Karl Eder (chief of competitions).
Germany’s Paralympic and world champion Andrea Eskau will compete at the IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup in Finsterau, Germany, in February, alongside her preparations for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Speaking at a press conference for the Finsterau World Cup, double Paralympic gold medallist sit-skier Eskau confirmed that she would not compete at other competitions in 2015-16 in Tyumen, Russia, and Vuokatti, Finland, but felt Finsterau was too good to miss.
"I have very positive memories of Finsterau,” Eskau, who is also triple Paralympic champion in handcycling, said. “Especially in Finsterau athletes with an impairment have experienced an event in the past [IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup in 2011]. The willingness of SV Finsterau [the organiers] to evolve constantly honours Finsterau.”
The 44-year-old is currently on her road to Rio 2016 and won a world title in the H5 class at the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in August.
The organisers of the World Cup spoke about their aspirations and conditions for hosting the World Cup competition, which takes place between 21-28 February and features cross-country skiing and biathlon.
"The World Cup is an appreciation for us," said Christian Eder, Chairperson of SV Finsterau. "We want to create the best conditions."
Karl Eder, Chief of Competition for the World Cup, added: "Our workers can be proud of what they have done in the summer."
Mayor Ernst Kandlbinder was also at the press conference to support efforts to bring high-level para-sport to the area.
In addition, Finsterau have involved Eskau’s 12-time biathlon and cross-country Paralympic champion teammate Verena Bentele as a patron of the competition.
Bentele is now the Disabled Commissioner in the German Federal Government and was inducted into the Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
Bentele and Eskau also skied with aspiring young athletes as part of the promotion.
The 2015-16 IPC Nordic Skiing season gets underway in Tyumen on 2-9 December, before moving to Finsterau and onto Vuokatti from 15-20 March.
