American XC Skiers Trip To MWC2013
Asiago, Italy -- February 12 - 23, 2013
MWC2013 Asiago, Italy
For a couple weeks in February 2013...life is going to be really, really, REALLY good.
Basic USA Trip Dates: February 12 - 23, 2013
Competition Dates: February 16-22, 2013
Best Air Access: Venice (VCE), Italy (1:30-2 hrs away by bus...less by car)
All about the AXCS MWC2013 Trip Package.
Official event website (but please note that AXCS & these pages of xcskiworld.com are your only resources for official USA entry materials as well as the Team USA travel package).
For those not familiar with AXCS trips to European-hosted Masters World Cup events, AXCS literally takes care of every major detail of the trip just like a professional tour company -- but at a fraction of the cost. Our long-term travel agent Diana Lynn Rau (The Travel Society) searches out great group airfares; AXCS picks a wonderful hotel(s) & half-board meal package with a great blend of price, comfort, food quality, location, amenities, etc. (we have portions of four hotels in Asiago at two different pricing points); AXCS arranges group ground transfers on the main arrival/departure days and helps with logistics for folks that come & go early/late; AXCS walks you thru the entry process; and then when we are in Europe the AXCS National Director J.D. Downing is on hand from start-to-finish to make the trip as fun and successful as possible. You will simply not find better service for XC skiers at any price.
---------------------------------
Why you want to go on the MWC2013 trip.
For starters, this is Italy. The 2006 AXCS trip to Brusson, Italy showed well over 100 USA racers just how fun and inviting it is to race and vacation in this theme park of XC skiing. Incredible food, wine, scenery, music, attractions -- the list is pretty much endless. Let's just say there is a reason why every year thousands of Norwegians make an annual trek from the cradle of skiing to experience the January Worldloppet in this part of the XC world. The Italians know how to make skiing and winter a great time!
Then there's the fact that the AXCS trip to the MWC2013 will be using Venice as the gateway airport for this once in a lifetime ski + vacation experience. Let's just assume Venice speaks for itself as an added attraction to this trip. You can easily visit this famous city before, during, or after the MWC as Asiago is a comfortable 1.5-2 hours away by bus or car.
Then there's Asiago itself. A regular host to major XC ski competitions including World and OPA Cups, Asiago features a lively downtown area filled with shopping, restaurants and other attractions set amongst the beauty of the Altopiano (basically the foothills of the Dolomites). In addition to the world-class race courses at the competition venue, there are two other nearby trail systems at higher elevations with many dozens of kilometers and literally jaw-dropping scenery. Elevation at the competition venue is in the 3500-4000 foot range putting it on the lower end of the altitude scale. It is very notable that Olympic Champion Beckie Scott calls Asiago her favorite European stop from years on the World Cup!
Then there's surrounding adventures like visiting Verona, the Dolomites, Dobbiaco/Cortina/Toblach resorts, and so much more all within a couple hours. The MWC2013 organizers are contracting with a tour company to offer dozens of side trips featuring oodles of activities to fill as much spare time as you like.
And last (but certainly not least)....in a wonderful twist of fate, the 2013 Nordic World Championships (the big boys and girls -- Bjoergen, Cologna, Northug, Demong, Randall, et al) will kick off a 1.5-2 hour bus ride to the west of Asiago in Val di Fiemme, Italy starting Thursday, February 21 with the individual sprints. This means folks that act fast can arrange tickets to make a day trip to watch the biggest stars in the XC world on the biggest stage in the XC world -- in between finishing up your own Worlds races! For those wishing to add a day or three or whatever you like to see more of the Nordic Worlds, AXCS will arrange for you to extend your stay at the same Asiago hotels (and at the same prices) past the close of the MWC2013.
Yeah, "wow" is the appropriate word to use right now.
AXCS is in the process of formulating early projections on trip costs. All AXCS members will be getting initial trip quotes (always subject to change) in the Spring XC World Digest print edition. Once the Digest is in the mail AXCS will formally open initial trip reservations (done via email or phone) with deposits then required to hold spots once we get into June 2012. Only current AXCS members will be send the Digest (yet another great reason to get your membership current!) and only current AXCS members can hold reservations for the MWC2013 trip. Racers are required to have AXCS membership (or equivalent). As long as we have one member in each room non-racers do not need to worry membership. AXCS absolutely welcomes non-racers to join us on the MWC trips -- the more the merrier!
This trip is going to be exceptionally popular not only with USA skiers and thus we urge (even more than most years) that skiers that are seriously interested get on the reservation list as soon as you can after the Digest hits the mail. Even with four hotels in the mix, it is very possible AXCS will run out of reserved space and other nations are taking up most of the remaining best choices. Quick action is also required if you want see Nordic World Championship events as the MWC2013 Organizing Committee can only guarantee getting tickets for a limited time this spring. Once events sell out, you'll be at the mercy of scalpers (Nordic Worlds events in Italy are a very, very big deal).
Start figuring out your personal logistics and stay tuned for much more information soon via the Digest and more info posted here on xcskiworld.com later this spring!
---------------------------------
