February 11, 2009 – Fischer Sports GmbH and Subaru Germany have started a cooperation this season in the Nordic sector. Together the two partners have formed the “Fischer-Subaru Nordic Racing Team” that will be competing in international ski marathons in Germany.

The cross-border team consists of eleven members who will be taking part in races of the German Ski Federation’s cross country skiing series from January to the end of March. The mix could not be better. The team is led by Thomas Freimuth (GER), currently Germany’s best racer in the citizens’ race scene. Experienced athletes Daniel Slechta (CZE) and Stephan Zirngibl (GER) are joined by young and hungry racers including Jiri Rocarek (CZE), Kristian Mehringer (GER) and Florian Schönbrunner (GER). The team is rounded off by Stefanie Meyr (GER), the only woman on the team so far.

Ideal conditions
As the global market leader in the Nordic segment, Fischer Sports supports the team members by providing them with first-class equipment (skis, boots, poles and apparel), creating perfect conditions for success in the sport. Subaru Germany is providing the team with four Forester 2.0Ds with the revolutionary boxer diesel engine for the athletes to travel to the various events. In other words, everything the athletes on the Fischer-Subaru Racing Team need to concentrate solely on their sporting challenges.

Successful start
And the team has certainly got off to a highly successful start. With his fifth place in the strong field of the Marcialonga (ITA) over 70 kilometres (classic style) and third place in the Dolomitenlauf (60 km freestyle), Thomas Freimuth showed that he now ranks among the world’s best ski marathon racers. The 28-year-old athlete from the Bavarian Forest is currently third in the overall FIS Marathon Cup standings. At the Skitrail in the Tannheimer Valley (GER/AUT), Jiri Rocarek, Kristian Mehringer and Florian Schönbrunner even clinched a one-two-three victory for the newly formed team in the 55 kilometre freestyle race. Finishing third and fourth in the traditional König Ludwig Lauf in Oberammergau (GER), Jiri Rocarek and Kristian Mehringer once again demonstrated their good form. And at the Dolomite Classic Race (42 km classic style), Viktor Novotny (CZE) likewise made it to the podium with third place.

With the formation and success of the Fischer-Subaru Nordic Racing Team, Fischer has once again shown its professional expertise in the ski marathon scene. Thanks to this cooperation between the world’s largest producer of four-wheel drive cars and the most successful Nordic ski brand for many years, we can look forward to more positive reports this winter from the remaining events of the citizens’ race series.

Race diary – German Cross Country Ski Federation Series:

– 17./18.01.2009 Oberwiesenthal Erzgebirgs-Lauf
– 24./25.01.2009 Tannheimer Tal – Bad Hindelang Skitrail
Р31.1/01.02.2009 Oberammergau K̦nig-Ludwig-Lauf
– 07./08.02.2009 Oberhof Rennsteig-Skilauf
– 21./22.02.2009 Klingenthal Int. Kammlauf
– 13./15.03.2009 Bodenmais Subaru Skadi-Loppet