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Summer Specials... 08. August 2011

Winter walks towards me with large steps. On Augusst 22nd we're heading to Saas Fee in Switzerland, where perfect conditions are already waiting for us. But there was going on quite a lot in the past, and even untill the 22nd, there's no reason to lay back.

As nearly every year I took part in a MTB race, called KitzAlpBike near Kitzbühel. I started on the new ultra-distance with 94km and 4400 altitude difference, I could make the 2nd place in my class. My opponent was only 55sec ahead of me at the finish, but unfortunately I knew nothing of the short time interval, otherwise I would have tortured me uphill even more. But you know, afterwards one's always wiser (-;

Two days later, at the beginning of July, I crossed the Alps with some of my friends. We started in St. Anton am Arlberg and ended our trip in the Italian part of Switzerland, in Ticino. Beautiful scenery, great passes, outstanding runs, but more of a bad-tempered weather god are the lasting impressions. Once in Ticino, two friends of our picked us up with their bus in Bellinzona and brought us to our accommodation, a stone house (-; For the next week the weather was aweful - again. Between the rain-intervals we spent our time with climbing- and canyoningtours (-;

Now I've just come back from the Beach Volleyball Grand Slam in Klagenfurt, Carinthia. But I can't enjoy the calmness at home for long, next week, on August 12th, for me and my team of four others starts the RaceAroundAustria. 30.000 meters difference in altitude and 2200km are waiting for us. We are starting on Friday evening in Schärding, Upper Austria. From that time on we're cycling night and day on the border of Austria, but always in Austria. The competition is tough, but I think that the tactic can contribute much to the victory. Of which we are indeed likely to be far away, but hope dies at last. (-:

I'm curious about how me and my team will do in the competition. For me as a late riser, the short sleep cycles and the stakes in the night will surely be especially hard. However, I am highly motivated, and so a few days after the end of the RAA I'm having my church wedding with Nina, and if I should decide different during the RAA, the border is never far away ((((-:

Sporty regards,
Benny

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Limone Piemonte / Italy 09. December 2010

Hi Folks!

Since Tuesday we are here again in "Limeone Piemonte", one hour north of the Cote d'Azure for our training for the upcoming two worldcups.

Friday: PGS, broadcasted on Eurosport 2
Saturday: PSL, broadcasted on Eurosport 2

Yesterday we had a temperature of +6 degree Celsius and it rained, today the sun shone towards our faces. Over the night it freezed and the training today was a lot of fun! The slope was so tight it hadn't been a long time ago, which made me grin a lot :-). Adjustments and shape are on the highest level and I'm really looking forward for the next races. LET'S GO!!!

It's the time of thumbspushing again, so get ready :-)

Greetings from sunny Italy,
Benny!

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Athlete of the Year 2010 04. November 2010

Hi people,

Yesterday was the competition of the Austrian Athlete of the Year 2010 in Vösendorf (Lower Austria). Already a long time before many people specultated who would be the one and even I was raising my hopes. After all I was one of the few ÖSV athletes who was able to win a silver medal in the Winter Games in Vancouver. In addition to that I was the only member of the ÖSV who won the overall World Cup this year and to see the big crystal globe home!

Then summer came and with it the successes of Jürgen Melzer. The speculations got even higher, though I knew I wouldn't have a chance against someone like him. Yesterday I had to realize that it wasn't Melzer who displaced me on the second place but the sport journalists, who admonished me on place five of the people being nominated.

Some people might say that for a snowboarder as I am it's already a good result being the 5th, but I'm not pleased with that. At least now I know that the sport journalists give a crap about the achievements of a sport, but mind a lot more the popularity of them.

If this is true I will just try to make my sport a lot more famous with the help of my great and unique team!

THANKS to all my friends who give me audacity and the power to reach my first class performances!

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My mysterious 10 11. October 2010

Hi people!

On 2010/10/10 I was able to reach the 10th place with starting number 10 in the "refrigerator" in Landgraaf. So there's a whole bunch of work to do until the next WC in December. Mainly concerning my backside, which got in my way during the race, too. Even if I do like icy slopes usually, I slipped in the only icy curve in this course. This time probably I am the one who should train a bit more :-)
Anyhow this result is a big incitation for the next preparation in November. I am already excited about getting back to the grindstone, working on myself and I'm looking forward that I'm returning full of power! At least there is enough time :-)

1st place: Andreas Prommegger (AUT)
2nd place: Roland Fischnaller (ITA)
3rd place: Aaron March (ITA)

Thanks for pushing your thumbs!

Regards,
Benny

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