DOLOMITES Val Gardena: Confirmation of the three nominations for the Karl Unterkircher Award 2014

Following the great success of the 2012 Karl Unterkircher Award, which saw the Ukrainian mountaineers Marina Kopteva, Galina Chibitok and Anna Yasinkaya take the prize, it is now time to publish the official nominations for the third Karl Unterkircher Award, which will be presented on 23^rd July 2014 in Selva di Val Gardena.

The Karl Unterkircher Award: a meeting of world-renowned mountaineers, guests and local people

The extreme mountaineer Karl Unterkircher lost his life on 15^th July 2008 in an accident on an expedition on Nanga Parbat. His family, friends and colleagues decided to commemorate his life by creating a prize in his honour. This commemoration, the Karl Unterkircher Award, had its first ceremony in 2010 and is presented every two years.

The prize was born of a desire to honour and remember Karl Unterkircher’s renown in the field of mountaineering, and it is aimed at European mountaineers who, in the two years prior to the award, have demonstrated particular skill in mountaineering or who have taken part in alpine-style expeditions of special significance. The initiative was conceived as an honorary award, a recognition of fair play, and it is thus not intended to be seen as a competition.

The organisers hope that it will be an occasion for an extraordinary encounter between world-renowned mountaineers, tourists and the people of Val Gardena.

The Karl Unterkircher Award will mark the beginning of a new initiative: Move-Feel the dolomites, from 23^rd-27^th July 2014

MOVE- Feel the Dolomites is the slogan for ‘Outdoor in Val Gardena’. A paradise for excursions, climbing, trail running and mountain biking during summer, giving way to skiing, cross-country skiing, ski touring, snow shoe excursions and ice climbing in winter.
You can’ get more outdoor than this, surrounded by the breathtaking view of the Dolomites.

Climbing-MOVE runs from 23 until 27 July 2014 and kickstarts the season with many more outdoor activities to come throughout the year.

Sport climbing, rock climbing, bouldering and slacklining: Val Gardena would like to invite both amateurs and professionals to take part in this Climbing-MOVE initiative in our Dolomites holiday valley.

These camps are intended for both the uninitiated and seasoned climbers. the proposed activities will teach beginners the fundamentals of climbing and help everyone else perfect their technique and improve their resistance. It will also be an opportunity for different outdoor brands to showcase their new equipment and clothing and, of course, for you to try them out to your heart’s content.

Val Gardena would like to invite you, with the support of the ‘Catores’ Mountain School and the Mountain Guide Association of Val Gardena, the Amateur Sport Clubs ‘ASK’ and ‘GAG’, to go on an adventure in the UNESCO World Heritage Site which is the Dolomites. Come and climb or boulder with us!

www.move-dolomites.it

NOMINEES ANNOUNCED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF catores and the val gardena alpine guides

The nominees for the Karl Unterkircher Award 2014 have now been decided and announced, and the 23^rd July 2014 promises to be a very special and exciting evening when, at 9:00, all three of the mountaineering groups will give a presentation about their projects on stage in the “Oswald von Wolkenstein” Cultural Centre in Selva Di Val Gardena.

The following have been nominated for the Karl Unterkircher Award 2014:

Simon Anthamatten (SUI), Matthias Auer (AUT), Hansjörg Auer (AUT)

For the first ascent of the East face of Kunyuang Chhish (Karakoram, Pakistan) on 18^th July 2013

Adam Holzknecht and Hubert Moroder

Ascent of the North face of “Legrima”, Sassolungo, on 7^th and 8^th January 2013

M. Della Bordella and L. Schiera (28th February, 1st-3rd March 2013), the summit of Torre Egger

First ascent of the West face of Torre Egger – “Magical Nights”, 2^nd March 2013

A JUDGING PANEL COMPOSED OF IMPORTANT NAMES:

As in the previous editions the working group responsible for the organisation of the Karl Unterkircher Award has paid particular attention to the composition of the judging panel, it again featuring important names from the international mountaineering community.

President of the Judging Panel: Wolfgang Nairz (Kitzbühel - AUSTRIA) – mountaineer Hans Peter Eisendle (Vipiteno – ITALY) – mountaineer Simon Kehrer (Mareo – ITALY) – mountaineer Carlo Caccia (Erba-Como – ITALY) – journalist David Demetz (Selva di Val Gardena – ITALY) – alpine guide from the Val Gardena Alpine Guide Association

More information: Karl Unterkircher Award