The Story of Konstantin Bratchikov: I am into cross-country skiing since I was a kid, but it is not a very popular sport in my Country

Foreign competitors make up 20 percent of the starting roster of the Jizerska 50. In 2019, competitors from 33 countries registered, including the Israeli Konstantin Bratchikov. He visited the Czech Republic many time, but he mustered up the courage for Jizerska 50 only in 2019.

Every year many foreign competitors start the Jizerska 50, but Israelis are not the biggest group. The Near East is not renowned for cross-country skiing. “I was born in northern Russia and used to ski since I was little. But cross-country races are not very popular in Israel,” explains Konstantin Bratchikov.

The fifty-four-year old started to compete at a later age. “Only few years ago my friends took mi to Engadin Skimarathon in Switzerland. I liked it a lot and that is why I started to participate in marathons regularly. Since then he participated in many races in countries such as Iceland, Finland, China and Austria. My goal is to become the Worldloppet Gold Master,” he reveals.

The Israeli competitor discusses why he registered. “I found the Jizerska 50 in the Worldloppet calendar and I liked the idea to start in the Czech Republic. I visited your country many times and always liked it very much.” He realized the idea in 2019 with his wife and friends. Along the competition he also visited Prague in the winter.

He doesn’t want to underestimate races like the Jizerska 50. So, how does he prepare? “The main part of my preparation take space on roller skates and I also use a bicycle. I always want to arrive in good time, my goal is to improve constantly,” concludes Konstantin Bratchikov.

His première at the Jizerska 50 in 2019 ended with 3:25:01. Good result in a sport, which is not very popular in his country.