6.6.2016

Registration for Jizerská 50 launched!

The fiftieth edition of the legendary ČEZ Jizerská 50 will take place next year and will feature two essential new aspects: the new date of 17-19 February 2017, which statistically offers better snow conditions, and assurance of a refund of the starting fee in the event that the race is cancelled due to insufficient snow. Registration for all races has begun on the website at www.jiz50.cz.

For the fiftieth edition, the organisers have managed to arrange insurance that will cover the risk of insufficient snow in the Jizera Mountains. In the event that it is not possible to hold the race even on a substitute or shortened route, 70% of the basic starting fee valid until 30 September 2016 will be returned to the racers up to the maximum amount of CZK 1,000. Details of the insurance payment is available in the separate table here. (LINK)

“Due to problems with unfavourable weather, in recent years we have attempted to arrange insurance that would cover the risk of cancellation of the race because of insufficient snow; however, the existing offer was not feasible due to the extremely high costs of insurance. We are pleased that we have found a great partner in Pojišťovna VZP and that together we have managed to prepare insurance that will make it possible to refund up to 70% of the starting fee with a minimal increase in the amount of the fee,” explains David Douša of the agency RAUL, which is the marketing partner of the race. “However, we believe that, thanks to moving the race to February, such a situation will not occur and the Jizerská 50 will be run in the full scope on its traditional route.”

The composition of weekend events will not be changed prior to the fiftieth edition of the Jizerská 50. Friday afternoon will feature the Pojišťovna VZP Mini Jizerská children’s races followed by the Volkswagen Bedřichovská 30 at 1:00 p.m. and the 1.5 km sprint in the early evening. Saturday afternoon is reserved for the Hervis Jizerská 25 and ČT Jizerská 10, the afternoon company relay. The main event, the ČEZ Jizerská 50, will take place on Sunday, 19 February 2017.

“I personally believe that the jubilee fiftieth edition will be the most successful in the history of the event and that we will sell out all of the races,” say Martin Koucký, chairman of Ski klub Jizerská padesátka. “Of course, it’s not only about the races, as we are preparing an expanded accompanying programme that will commemorate both the fifty-year history of the race as well as the Expedition Peru 1970 and the tragic loss of 15 mountain climbers.”

The most favourable starting fee, which in the case of the main 50 km classic race, for example, amounts to CZK 1,400 including cancellation and injury insurance, can be obtained when registering and paying by 30 September 2016. As in previous years, those interested can also buy parking cards for the Saturday and Sunday races when registering.

The new February date of the Jizerská 50 will give all racers the possibility to thoroughly prepare for the race. Whereas in previous years, they often raced with limited preparation at the beginning of January, this year the highlight of the season will be preceded by four races of SkiTour, the biggest domestic cross-country skiing series.