Rain at the sky, sun in the hearts
Powerman Zofingen 2012: First day with CHARITY and PowerKids
The bad weather at the first day of Powerman Zofingen only had an effect on the amount of the participants at Powerman CHARITY and PowerKids, but not on their good mood. The organizers of Powerman Zofingen intend to make the Powerman CHARITY next year even more attractive by changing the concept.
Although the first day of Powerman Zofingen was rainy, the athletes had fun. The best example was Stephan Meier, European Champion Beach Soccer and participant of the Powerman CHARITY. «It is all about attitude, the weather does not matter. The thought to support PluSport and people with handicaps, is my motivation. I will start next year for sure again.» Evelyne Leu, former ski acrobats and mother of a two months old boy, used the event to communicate and network with other athletes. Leu is planning to start at Powerman CHARITY next year.
Mike Kurt – a new fan of cycling
Mike Kurt, the best of Swiss Canoe, organized especially for Powerman Zofingen a high-tech bicycle in Sursee which was sponsored. Mathias Frank gave him some important ideas about the sports of cycling. After a short time Kurt already knew how to use the klick-pedales in coordination with the gears. Kurt does not know yet if he wants to continue his career, it depends on the sponsors and his own motivation. «The Powerman Zofingen motivates me and I will buy an own, modern bike.»
The training of the FC Aarau was delayed because some of the players wanted to be part of the CHARITY. Stephan Meier, former FCA player, started together with Alain Schultz and David Marazzi the five kilometer running distance. They took the oppurtunity to talk aboutt he FCA, who is the challenge league leader at the moment.
Old fashioned bike
Bike-crack Mathias Frank and the Duathlon legend Urs Dellsperger agreed the weather was wet, but they had a lot of fun. Frank’s first run in the coming year will be the race «Ardennen-Rundfahrt», after Powerman Zofingen he goes to Canada. Frank was surprised about the differences between the equipments of the athletes. Even the old-fashioned bike from Benvenuto Savoldelli, president of the EHC Olten, was still running fast.
On the track they cycled together, which made it possible to talk to each other. Some of the participants became friends. Savoldelli and René Weiler, coach of FCA, are even planning to do activities together in the future.
Reconstruct the concept
Compared to last year, there were less participants. Martin Ryser, Head of Athletic Marketing of the Powerman Zofingen, confirms that normally people sign in spontaneous. «The main reason why we did not get as many inscriptions as usually might be because of the weather forcast.» Ryser is planning some changes in CHARITY for the 25th anniversary in 2013. Urs Dellsperger has some ideas: «Perhaps the CHARITY should be integrated in the Sunday’s race, there would be more audience.» The Winner of the Powerman Zofingen 1995 and 1997 proposes to organize a kind of competition in the arena. «This would be more interesting for the participants and also for the audience.», thinks Dellsperger, who serves the Swiss Sport TV on Sunday as an expert.
PluSportsupports
Powerman Zofingen with Powerman CHARITY supports this year for the first time the foundation PluSport. Arielle Salomon, Head of Marketing and Communication of PluSport Switzerland, considerate for 2013 the participation of different handicapped athletes. «Unfortunately this year it was not possible to have them here because some of them participated at the Paralympics in London.» No matter how the new concept looks like, most of the celebrities will start at the Powerman CHARITY 2013 again.
Less PowerKids
At the Power Kids race, 112 girls and boys started. «Compared to the last few years, we had about 50 kids less», says Stephan Aregger, who is responsible for the PowerKids. There were much less kids signing in on Saturday as normally. Great, that the PowerKids were international this year. A lot of the athletes who start on Sunday over the long distance motivated their kids to start on Saturday’s race.
text: Raphael Galliker
caption: Benvenuto Savoldelli, the president of the EHC Olten (left), gets at the Powerman CHARITY some interesting insider information from the Duathlon-star Urs Dellsperger how to become even faster on the bike.
picture: Fotoclub Blende 8.5 Zofingen
Find more pictures from the first Powerman Zofingen 2012 day here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46788073@N07/sets/72157631351667220/
