ALPINMESSE WITH ALPINFORUM 2023: SAFELY UP THE MOUNTAIN

On November 11 and 12, all summiteers will meet at Austria's largest mountain sports trade fair and conference: The Alpinmesse with Alpinforum provides a highly informative program with over 30 lectures, workshops and discussion formats. At the Alpinforum of the Austrian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety (ÖKAS), mountain professionals and experts will focus on safety in the mountains and the topic of personal responsibility in alpine terrain.

The local climbing elite will bring the atmosphere to a boil during the BlocAlpin Boulder Cup. The new AlpinNight ensures an exuberant party atmosphere. Prominent speakers invite you to immerse yourself in their spectacular climbing world. Around 200 exhibitors present their new products and provide advice on the latest trends. In short: the ultimate meeting place for all mountain sports enthusiasts!

Innsbruck, 03.11.2023. The Alpinmesse with Alpinforum has been a fixture in the local and international mountain sports scene for years. With a focus on mountaineering, skiing/ski touring/freeriding, climbing, biking, trail running, alpine travel, alpine safety, first aid and rescue systems, the Alpinmesse with Alpinforum is the central point of contact for all alpine sports enthusiasts, the main mountain sports and safety institutions, experts and brand manufacturers. In its 16th edition, the trade fair and symposium offers a first-class program that brings you up to date with the latest technology and expert knowledge, practical experience and equipment and discusses cutting-edge topics. Christian Mayerhofer, Managing Director of Congress Messe Innsbruck (CMI), emphasizes the quality of the Alpinmesse as a leading European trade fair: “The Alpinmesse with Alpinforum brings mountain sports enthusiasts together with brand manufacturers of alpine equipment and the leading experts for alpine safety in a unique way. Anyone who wants to find out about the latest trends and expert opinions in the world of alpine sports and exchange ideas with other mountain sports enthusiasts and professionals will find what they are looking for here. We would like to thank our experienced partners, first and foremost the Austrian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety, for their excellent cooperation.”

MORE SAFETY ON THE MOUNTAIN WITH ALPINFORUM

In addition to risk management and accident prevention, the Alpinforum 2023 will focus on the topic of personal responsibility in mountain sports. Peter Paal, President of the Austrian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety, sums up the top-class program: “‘Personal responsibility’ is the theme of the Alpine Forum. The lectures range from tour planning to alpine travel in times of climate crisis, leadership, dealing with risk and solo climbing - a prime example of alpine personal responsibility. The program is both inspiring and exciting.” Aspects such as dealing with weather and avalanche forecasts, youth projects and criminal law in the mountains will also be covered during the presentations.

Astrid Mair, Tyrolean State Councillor for Safety, emphasizes the extent to which the members of the relevant organizations such as the mountain rescue service or the Alpenverein are challenged and how much it depends on individual risk assessment and responsibility: “Alpine safety is not only very important to me as a mountain sports enthusiast from Tyrol, but also as a member of the state government for more than a year now. The fact is that with the growing trend in mountain sports, the number of accidents is also increasing. In Tyrol, we can rely on the emergency services. Nevertheless, I will never tire of emphasizing that we also need each and every individual to take responsibility. 

After all, our strong safety net is there for emergencies and should not serve to reinforce the fully comprehensive insurance mentality on the mountain. I am therefore particularly pleased that the Alpinmesse with the Alpinforum 2023, as Europe's leading mountain sports fair, is presenting current offers for all aspects of mountain sports and at the same time focusing on the topic of 'safety on the mountain'.”

Georg Willi, Mayor of the City of Innsbruck, emphasizes Innsbruck's position and the relevance of environmentally friendly measures in alpine sports: “The city of Innsbruck, with its location in the heart of the Alps, is rightly considered the number one sports capital in the Alps. The Alpine Trade Fair brings together outdoor sports enthusiasts from Austria and abroad and also focuses on important topics such as safety and the careful use of the natural environment. The consequences of the climate crisis make it clear to us how fragile this area is and how important it is that we do everything we can to be able to enjoy it in the future.” Matthias Knaus, Managing Director of the Austrian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety, is particularly interested in the knowledge transfer function of the Alpine Forum: “The Alpinforum is the central public event of the ÖKAS year and an excellent opportunity for visitors to increase their knowledge of Alpine safety issues. Discussions and exchanges at a specialist level are the cornerstone for better networking and jointly developed solutions in accident prevention. As part of the Alpinmesse, we reach a wide audience who can find out about new equipment and safety-related developments in mountain sports.”

NEW, BETTER, SAFER: PRODUCT INNOVATIONS, TRENDS AND YOUTH PROGRAMS

When it comes to innovations, the Alpinmesse is well equipped: Around 200 exhibitors at the Alpinmesse provide an excellent range of advice on the latest developments in technology and equipment relating to the sports of mountaineering, skiing/ski touring/freeriding, climbing, biking, trail running as well as the topics of alpine travel, alpine safety, first aid and rescue systems. The equipment, clothing and accessories can be viewed or even tested directly at the trade fair. These include numerous new products - from ecological ski wax to clever emergency alarm systems and ultra-light touring bindings or airbag backpacks through to the latest fashion trends - which ensure greater safety, comfort, coolness and convenience. Youth and young talent are also very much in vogue at the Alpinmesse with Alpinforum. The mountain sports institutions want to raise awareness of how important it is to introduce young people to alpine sports in a professional, fun and responsible way. An additional point of contact for young visitors at the Alpinmesse is the special program of the clubs and institutions presenting their youth programs and inviting them to talk.

Mountain sports enthusiasts like to exchange information via social media. Accordingly, the Alpinmesse and Alpinforum are also active online, as Christoph Heuschneider, Project Manager of the Alpinmesse, reports: “Pupils and students from the Ferrarischule Innsbruck are supporting Congress Messe Innsbruck under the motto ‘School goes Business’ by posting on the social media channels during the Alpinmesse with Alpinforum. We are looking forward to the input and postings and to the fact that we can provide access to such valuable practical experience with this campaign.”

WORKSHOPS, EXPERIENCE ZONES AND IMPULSE LECTURES IMPART KNOWLEDGE AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION

Interactive workshops and captivating impulse and travel lectures at the Alpinmesse invite you to learn more or make plans for your next trip. During supervised climbing on the climbing towers or the boulder test wall, beginners can take their first steps or experienced climbers can improve their techniques. The workshops on alpine tour planning provide all the information on equipment and roping up. Avalanche transceiver workshops, so-called avalanche transceiver training, show what is important in an emergency - a 350 square meter area filled with wood chips is set up for this purpose, where participants can practice using the latest avalanche transceivers. Incidentally, the training sessions will also be available in virtual reality format for the first time this year. A trail running test track invites participants to slip into their new trail running equipment and try it out live. A total of almost 1,000 workshop places will be available for those interested.

On the main stage, the spotlight will be on experts from mountain sports institutions, alpinists and exhibitors who will inspire the audience with informative presentations. Presentations on digital route planning, rescue operations on the mountain, emergency procedures until the mountain rescue team arrives, avalanche situations and the use of drones in mountain rescue services will shed light on current topics. In addition, numerous discussion formats provide platforms for exchange. The travel stage attracts visitors with breathtaking images and presentations on heliskiing in Canada, ski crossings in Chamonix or expeditions to Nepal. The exhibitors and travel providers will also be offering advice on hiking and adventure trips, high mountain tours and cycling trips at their respective stands. Christoph Heuschneider emphasizes how strongly the Alpinmesse acts as a platform for exchange and networking through these program items: “The workshops and lectures are about imparting knowledge as well as the opportunity to discuss with the plenum, ask questions, exchange ideas with peers and get into conversation. This creates a direct dialog between amateur athletes, professionals and experts on hot topics in mountain sports.”

ACTION FROM DAWN TILL DUSK WITH BOULDERCUP, ALPINNIGHT AND MULTIVISION LECTURES

Entertainment is guaranteed during the Alpinmesse. The skillful manoeuvres of the local climbing stars on the impressive bouldering wall will leave you in awe: The BlocAlpin Bouldering Cup takes place on the days of the fair and features competitions from the Austria Climbing Cup in the U14, U16 and general class categories. At the end of the first day of the fair, the Stubai alphorn players as well as DJ Allspice and DJ Chris Sunshine invite you to an atmospheric finale. During the multivision presentations, prominent speakers will talk about their experiences and record-breaking hunts on the steepest walls and highest peaks in the world: Dani Arnold, Laura Tiefenthaler, Alexander Huber and David Göttler will immerse visitors in the world of solo climbing. In addition, two film festivals will take place in Innsbruck parallel to the Alpinmesse On Friday and Saturday, visitors can be inspired by 14 spectacular films in the Metropol Cinema. On Sunday, the European Outdoor Film Tour 2023 will also make a stop at Congress Innsbruck as part of the Alpinmesse, where the 6 best outdoor films on this year's theme “Find Your Line” will be shown.

CREATING AWARENESS FOR SUSTAINABLE THINKING AND ACTION

As a key multiplier in international mountain sports, the Alpinmesse with Alpinforum also focuses on sustainability as a highly relevant topic. To this end, it uses many levers, such as local public transport. With an online ticket including an event ticket, visitors can use all public transport in Tyrol to get to and from the event free of charge. Congress Messe Innsbruck and the Austrian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety are thus creating an incentive for sustainable travel and saving resources. Another example of sustainable action can be found in the avalanche search field, which is filled with wood chips made from local raw materials that are completely recycled after the end of the trade fair. At the trade fair, visitors will also have the opportunity to design their own snowboard or skis from natural materials and build them at six stations. A reforestation project will also be supported and the use of disposable cups will be reduced by providing rental cups.

Old ski skins are collected under the name “Skifell-Re.use”, which are then used to make hut boots. This campaign was launched last year as part of the Alpinmesse and over 500 skins have already been collected and upcycled. Anyone who needs new ski boots can take their old pair to the Blizzard exhibitor stand and have them recycled as part of the “Recycle Your Boots” project. In addition, a “plogging” campaign will be launched as part of the Alpinforum alpine trade fair. Plogging stands for “plastic jogging” - equipped with bin bags and gloves, participants will run through the city at a leisurely pace, picking up litter from the streets. Participants in the campaign receive a discounted trade fair ticket. With these and many other steps in the planning and implementation, the Alpinmesse with Alpinforum is not only trying to conserve resources and reduce emissions, but also to promote the ecological idea and encourage circular thinking.