Jump and Freeze in Westendorf

Westendorf, one of the most popular Alpine ski resort situated in Austria, is getting ready for the next Jump and Freeze event which is held this year for the 13th time. For the years of its existence it evolved from small local contest into some kind of regional winter carnival visited by growing from year to year numbers of spectators. Many major TV channels provide coverage of the event and its audience totals millions of people.

During the Jump and Freeze event the competitors are to slide down into a huge pool filled with ice cold water. Such a “spring rite” is a common practice on many ski resorts at the end of season, say in April, but only in Westendorf participants do it in the middle of February, the coldest winter month, and have fun. The show is accompanied by ecstatic cries of onlookers.

This year Jump and Freeze will held at the nursery slope on quite notorious date - Friday the 13th of February – starting from 8pm. The organizing committee expects about 100 participants and 10,000 spectators from all over the world to attend the event this year. Media coverage is hoped to be enormous too. During this day a small Austrian ski village will became kind of crowded place.

Photo: tirol-netz.de