MASTERS WORLD CUP 2012: Oberwiesenthal, Germany
USA Contingent Official Dates
USA Trip Dates: February 28 - March 10, 2012
Competition Dates: March 3-9, 2012
For more AXCS general trip information or to get on the reservation list:
AXCS Phone: 541-317-0217
AXCS Email: axcs at xcskiworld dot com
To get on a group airfare search list via official travel agent partner Diana Lynn Rau (The Travel Society), please call 970.887.3095 or toll-free 866.759.6867 or email Dianalrau@cs.com.
Official MWC2012 Website -- best used only for schedules and area info. Remember that only AXCS can issue official USA skier entry materials!!! Contact the AXCS office for details.
Rathaus Hotel has been selected by AXCS as the official Team USA hotel. Link provided for information and viewing. To reserve a space on the AXCS trip, see info below.
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Team USA MWC2012 Update Page: This link will take you to regular pre-trip updates plus daily (whenever possible) updates throughout the event once we are in Germany.
LAST WORD ON AXCS MWC2012 TRIP PACKAGE: As of December 30 -- We have roughly a 70-strong USA contingent (racers + family) for MWC2012. Skiers can register for the MWC2012 up until February 6 (note that you must contact AXCS to find out how to register, USA skiers cannot use the entry form found on the official MWC2012.com website). AXCS may still be able to get folks into our selected hotel in coming weeks, but there is no guarantee AXCS will be able to find rooms left. However there are other places to stay in Oberwiesenthal that may not all fill and we can make recommendations for your own search. If interested in going, contact the AXCS office asap (axcs at xcskiworld dot com....(541) 317-0217!)
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Masters World Cup travel packages are put together by the non-profit 501c3 American Cross Country Skiers (AXCS) as an exclusive benefit to our membership. A great deal of care is taken to make the official USA travel packages as affordable, convenient, and well-designed as possible. Our prices will meet or beat pricing by any for-profit tour group and absolutely no other group will have the convenience of access to information both before and during the events. Our hotel will be the only location for official USA Team Meetings and Information Boards. Plus, only via the official travel package can you provide the maximum support for future USA representation within the World Masters Association.
The bottom line is that USA skiers are always welcome to set up a different travel package -- but please note the advantages of the AXCS package, note there is considerable extra work for the association when USA skiers are not staying together, and please note that there is a required surcharge on entry fees for any skier not in the AXCS travel package. The surcharge helps AXCS maintain services for future MWC years.
On this page AXCS is offering only projected cost estimates. Some values are in US dollars and some in Euro depending on the impact currency exchanges may have on the final price you pay. More details and firm pricing will be available in coming months as people sign up and commit to the trip.
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Airfare To/From USA
From popular USA gateways (very early ballpark prices as of April 2011): ANC -- $1450-1500, SFO -- $1150, SLC -- $1200. DEN -- $1000-1100, MSP -- $1100, BOS -- $900-1000
As we have seen with past MWC trips, air pricing will vary considerably over the coming months with best sales for travel in the late Winter 2012 most likely not available until this fall. Diana Lynn Rau is already working on group pricing via major U.S. gateways. To get on Diana’s airfare watch list for your specific flight/date needs, use contact info above.
MWC Airfare Note: Typically we've found for MWC skiers the group air pricing is the way to go even if it ends up the same price as what you can find on your own on-line. Why? Two reasons -- the first is that it's much cheaper/easier to coordinate ground transport when we have larger groups of skiers arriving at the same time. So you save money on ground transport often equal to or more than "savings" with on-line air search engines. The second reason is the level of service you’ll enjoy with Diana vs. the on-line search engines. Given air travel can be an "adventure" these days -- it greatly helps to have a pro like Diana in your corner before-during-after the trip.
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AXCS Lodging/Half-Board Package
(10 nights @ Rathaus Hotel): Our hotel is right in the heart of the Oberwiesenthal village. Featuring modern and comfortable rooms, exceptional food, Wi-Fi access, waxing facilities, and the entire village at the doorstep -- Hotel Rathaus is also quite affordable making it the perfect choice for Team USA skiers. The MWC shuttle system will pick up at our doorstep with a 5 minute trip up to the race venue. A 10 minute walk could get skiers to the village trail head for other non-race day ski options.
Half Board -- breakfast & dinners included, (this is typically what AXCS recommends so you are free to roam mid-day)
Full Board -- breakfast/lunch/dinners.
- Double Hotel Room + Breakfast -- 600 euro per person
- Double Hotel Room + Half Board -- 750 euro per person
- Double Hotel Room + Full Board-- 900 euro per person
- Single Hotel Room + Breakfast -- 850 euro per person
- Single Hotel Room + Half Board -- 1000 euro per person
- Single Hotel Room + Full Board -- 1150 euro per person
One person in a double room with half board meals would pencil out at $1,100US for a ten night stay as of April 2011 exchange rates. These are great lodging prices for a very comfortable hotel with great food and well below prices for Worlds over the past half decade!
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Other Costs To Note
Entry Fees -- a flat fee of 160 euro per racer. Much more info on race registration coming in the AXCS Summer Digest and on-line so don’t worry about that right now.
Ground Transport -- Typically transfers of the Prague-Oberwiesenthal length will run $100-120 per person roundtrip if we hit projected USA participation numbers on the large shuttle groups. Odd times or dates will greatly increase costs of ground transfers.
Travel Insurance -- AXCS strongly recommends using Travel Guard or other travel insurance providers with coverage for emergency trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and trip interruptions. Estimated cost would be $50-150 per person depending on your age and level of coverage.
Lunch money, shopping funds, play funds for spas, outdoor adventures, etc. plus any expenses if you spend a night or two in Prague are up to you. It should not be necessary to rent a car until you really want the freedom to add day trips. Note that you cannot drive to the race venue (no parking due to stadium set-up).
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I (Still) Want To Go, How Do I Sign Up?!
As of December/January, send an email << axcs at xcskiworld dot com >> or call the AXCS office (541.317.0217) to see if we can find you a room at Rathaus Hotel or make recommendations at other lodging options. We'll also get you all necessary info on ground transfers, race entry, and other details.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FEBRUARY 6 DEADLINE FOR RACE ENTRY IS A RECEIVED BY AXCS DATE. Entries that come in after Feb 6 will likely not be forwarded to the World Masters Association in time to get you on start lists. Please do not miss this deadline!!!
