The teams will parade and fire will be lit at Ovcarna pod Pradedem facility in the Hruby Jesenik Mountains at 7 PM on Sunday 31 January to open the Czech Army international championship of Winter Survival 2010. The military Winter Survival (WS) is an endurance polyathlon simulating military patrol operation in unknown winter mountain area. This unique competition is the most challenging sport event held by the Czech military forces. It includes “outdoor” type events in sport nature and other activities similar to battle movements of individuals or small teams in snow-covered mountains.
In the 16th extreme competition, the Czech military teams will be completed by their colleagues from Belgium, Poland and Slovakia. For the Czech Army the teams who entered the championships have come for Joint Forces, Support Command, military schools and Military Police. We will see one female among the sixty competitors this year. The four-day event in the Jesenik Mountains is held by ACR General Staff and the University of Defence.
Championship schedule:
Sunday 31 January 2010
Opening ceremony – the championships will be opened by the chief of ACR General Staff the general of the army Vlastimil Picek at Ovcarna pod Pradedem at 7 PM
Monday 1 February 2010 – Stage I
Morning: Downhills and "injured person" evacuation. Start at 7.30 AM from above Figura mountain hotel.
The athletes will compete in a skicross event, team downhill race and burden downhill transport in the vicinity around Petrovy Kameny hill close to Ovcarna pod Pradedem and on the Praded Mt. slopes.
Afternoon: Off-road movement and night orienteering race. Start at 3.00 PM from Hubert Hotel at Karlova Studanka spa.
The teams will move through mountains terrain on ski wearing all equipment from Karlova Studanka spa to the survival area that is 3 kilometres West of Vrbno pod Pradedem to go for night orienteering race and survival skills at 6.30 PM. Then, they will spend the night in the open air.
Tuesday 2 February 2010 and Wednesday 3 February 2010 – Stage II
A two-day endurance race with skill events.
The teams have only a map and a compass to cover fifty kilometres in two days through the ridges of Hruby Jesenik Mountains carrying compulsory equipment from one checkpoint to another where they complete various challenging “survival” events, such as climbing to rocks using mountaineering techniques, crossing various natural and manmade obstacles with rope techniques, shooting submachine gun and pistol, throwing knives, administering first aid or sleeping outdoor overnight.
On Tuesday 2 February at 7.00 the teams set out for the two days from the start area that will be close to Bily Potok settling (4 km west of Vrbno pod Pradedem).
On Wednesday 3 February at 7.00 they start to the next competition day from the vicinity of emergency overnight area of Videlske sedlo (10 km North-West of Vrbno pod Pradedem).
Thursday 4 February 2010 – Stage III
Paramilitary cross-country free terrain relay race near Kurzovní Sporthotel (800 metres from Ovcarna pod Pradedem). The track is 6 km long.
First round – individual paramilitary relay race
Second round – team paramilitary race
Dummy grenade throws take place in front of Kurzovni Hotel.
The first round starts at 11.00 AM.
Friday 5 February 2010
Victory ceremony of the championship takes place in front of Ovcarna pod Pradedem hotel.
The beginning is at 09.30 AM, attendance of MoD representatives and invited guests.
Remark:
Journalists are recommended to visit Stage II of the competition (Tuesday/Wednesday) to take the most attractive photos of the competition. Journalists accreditation and escort to the race course will be arranged by WS 2010 press officer.
The journalists are expected to meet at 11 AM on 2 February 2010 or at 10.30 AM on 3 February 2010 at the parking lot in front of the shopping centre in Vrbno pod Pradedem (next to the roundabout).