Innsbruck 2000

I2K - The Innsbruck 2000 New Year Event, Part IV

by Mike Gendreyzig, 2003

French Connection
& The Bandage Master

The best of all day sledging is the lunch break at a typical mountain hut tavern. Tyrolean delicious meals like 'Spinatspatzn' and Speckknödel (dumplings with pieces of bacon) are worth considering. And some of our group ordered those tidbits every lunch time again.

We were all sorry, that B. hit her knee while sledging. So K. the rope master had to bandage her. Despite this incident the sledge race had no mentionable accident this year. The marks of the 'death curve', which claimed some victims three years ago, couldn't be seen anymore. This slope at Axamer Lizum is not an easy one, but as fairly long and medium rated alternative to another dozen of toboggan ways itīs good for beginner's and advanced riders. The biggest advantage is the excellent access by public transportation and possibility to shorten the way up by taking nearly regular post buses (buy a single trip for ATS27, a day ticket for ATS 54 or a week ticket for ATS 105).

The New Year Event - Fire Works and Champagne

Fantastic! What else to add to the spectacular fire works lasting for more than 20 minutes, with accentuated orchestra background music (Star Wars theme, masterpieces from Vangelis, etc.)
The big street party is another highlight of Innsbruck New Year. There are live bands playing various kinds of music and booths selling moulded wine. People from many different nations dancing and singing together on the street. Clinking with champagne bottles. And some are firing there one small fire works, cute in contrast to the big professional one. But it's also nice to see them when they explode high in the mountain areas, fired by inhabitants of huts at 1,000 or 2,000m.
We enjoyed that joyful spectacle until 2am and back in the youth hostel - yes, it was still open and the friendly host welcomed us - we ate some snacks, played cards and recapitulated the passed year. The night was long and breakfast was close, but the host gave us an extra hour to get up.