April 9, 2005 (Livigno, Italy) – More than Telemark. This could be the slogan of all the side events organized in Livigno for the LiveFree Heel Fest, the telemark event which has closed Livigno’s winter season for the past 10 years. This year’s edition is no exception.

The week from 9th to 17th April is dedicated to this skiing technique, born in the old times, when the first skiers used to descend on slopes of fresh snow with a free-heel binding. This way of skiing has been forgotten for a quite long period, due to the modern ski types. Ten years ago a group of enthusiasts gave birth to La Skieda, which has since become THE international telemark event. The only change that this festival has undergone is in its name.

Livigno has a long tradition of creating new events. This year, during the first edition of the LiveFree Heel Fest, there will also be the debut of the European Telemark Film Festival.

There is a wide choice of films and documentaries on free-heel skiing. However often they are independently produced and therefore their distribution is limited. This is the reason why the LiveFree Heel Fest organizing committee has decided to gather what has been filmed until present time and to choose the best film. Actually there will be two winners, one for each category: “Grand Prix Livigno Free Heel Ski” dedicated to pure skiing, and “Grand Prix Livigno Free Heel Adventure”, where skiing is linked to adventure and exploring. The jury for both categories is composed of journalists, photographers, expert telemarkers and some members of the LiveFree Heel Fest Organizing Committee.

Moreover, thanks to the support of the local TV channel, Telemonteneve, during the telemark week two films will be broadcast every day, at 6,30pm and 10,00pm, so that all the telemarkers participating in the event will have the chance of watching some of the movies they have often only heard about and never seen. On 14th April the winning films will be shown at Plaza Placheda – where accreditation offices are located – and the prize money (800,00 Euro gross) will be awarded.

The European Telemark Film Festival represents one of the several promotional opportunities offered by the LiveFree Heel Fest to companies specialized in telemark equipment and gear. Another example is the Tele Expo, an exhibition area in Plaza Placheda, with a test centre on the ski slopes. For further information on the First European Telemark Film Festival and other events, please visit www.livignofreeheel.it with live updates on Livigno’s Telemark Festival.

Contact for the public:
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE LIVEFREE HEEL FEST
APT Livigno Ufficio Eventi
tel. 0039.0342.052.230 – fax. 0039.0342.052.259
<http://www.aptlivigno.it/>www.aptlivigno.it – infoeventi@aptlivigno.it>infoeventi@aptlivigno.it