The Fosennachtsverein Grainau gave everything - it was worth it.
With five sacks of pretzel salt, they save their Brandahar race on Shrove Sunday.
A successful premiere.
Grainau – Wind and daytime temperatures of 17 degrees plus on Saturday.
Not good conditions for a ski slope.
But those responsible at the Fosennachtsverein Grainau were not discouraged.
"We'll get there," they were sure of.
They were right.
A white spot enabled the first Brandahar race in Grainau yesterday.
"We are the only ones who can offer a ski arena with snow today," said patron (and mayor) Stephan Märkl, who was also the first forerunner of the fun event, in an interview with Harry Valérien (Hannes Gaißmaier) and Katrin Müller-Hohenstein (Martina Burger).
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The "piste caterpillar" team is approaching: in the race, they drive a daring line and show a full jump on the ice slope.
© Klaus Munz
Originally equipped athletes and groups such as "Valentin Feuerstuhl", "Eddie, the Eagle", the "Pfütz'n-Sanis", "The Penguins" or the "Schneehexen" started.
Even the Lenzheim sent many mottled gray and aged residents, some with a bed or an infusion bottle, onto the ice slope.
They all presented themselves to the fans when the fun worm was set up on the lower village square.
With a standard, drummers and band, we marched to the arena on Brandweg.
Brandahar fun race: SC Partenkirchen route director flown in specially
The organizers distributed five sacks of pretzel salt on the Brandahar.
"Optimal conditions" promised Ignaz Schwinghammer from the Fosennachtsverein.
The route manager from SC Partenkirchen was also flown in extra, who personally took care of the slope with his shovel.
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Experts among themselves: patron and forerunner Stephan Märkl with announcer Martina Burger aka Katrin Müller-Hohenstein.
© Klaus Munz
Flags of all nations waved in the sometimes stormy wind, the 800 spectators and athletes gave a colorful picture, Queen's "We will rock you" boomed out of the loudspeaker.
Martina Burger's request to the audience was clear: "Take it easy." Then she practiced the La Ola wave with the numerous onlookers.
After all, the racers deserved a great atmosphere.
"It's amazing what's on offer," said Burger, referring to the starters, "an offer par excellence".
Inflatable boat racers: Equipment to match the weather
With start number two, the "Speiboardler" raced down the slope with their inflatable dinosaurs.
"Now they have left the ideal line, a devastating fall," stadium announcer Burger shouted into the microphone.
"Eddie, the Eagle" was also on the way.
Then the Brandahar dwarves on their horn sled, behind them a team in a rubber dinghy.
"Suitable for the weather," said the announcer, "they can then swim home straight away." The "piste caterpillar" followed them with a full jump on the ice slope.
Erwin Ehlers and Flori Dörfler as penguins also did a good job on the meanwhile badly battered slope.
The same goes for the flying carpet with Seppi Kraus & Co. and finally Hansi and Evi Biederer from the Neuneralm (played by Kilian Märkl and Maxi Bielitz) with their rubber dinghy.
In the interview that followed, Hansi was satisfied.
He thought the race was "superguad".
Which of course was celebrated accordingly.
Participants and spectators let the successful afternoon end at the Brandahar Bar – some shorter, others longer.
Klaus Munz