According to the biggest ski fair in London Bansko will be the European hit this winter

According to the biggest ski fair in London Bansko will be the European hit this winter

24 Hours, Peter Petrov, 15.10.2005

“Bansko is the best and most contemporary site for ski holidays east of the Alps and there is no doubt in this statement.” This is the assessment of the five time world ski champion and the star of the skiing world during the 80’s and 90’s, Marc Giardelli. Set in the huge “Olympia” exhibition hall in the Kensington area of London, the event took place from 12th of 16th October. It is widely regarded as the biggest ski and snowboard exhibition in Europe before the start of the European ski season. Marc Giardelli is on the Balkan Holidays’ stand and is giving away autographs, smiles and shaking hands with scores of fans who are queuing to see him. He never falters, even during the longest conversations and has a special opinion on what can be expected by the ski enthusiasts in Bansko. “Everyone is asking whether Bulgaria is really offering such high quality resort, but this is already a fact and everyone who visits Bansko will see for themselves. I know most of the sites for skiing in Europe and the whole world and I am sure that every skier will receive the best service and good value for money during this season.” said Giardelli. He knows very well his British audience, for whom price and quality are always the most important reasons when they take a decision where to spend their holidays. The interest on their stand is really significant. Tour operators are expecting more than 20% rise in the number of tourists. They take tourists to the other nice Bulgarian resorts like Borovets and Pamporovo, but there is no doubt that this winter Bansko will be a hit. “We still haven’t really decided where to go. We usually go to France and Italy, now we have decided to take the kids and we think that Bulgaria is the best place for this winter”. A common choice by many a visitor to the Balkan Holiday stand. The following is an extract from an interview with Marc Giardelli: Marc why is your name connected to Bulgaria and Bansko? I was invited for the opening of one of the new pistes last year. The conditions in Bansko really impressed me, and then I became friend to the people there and during the last year I have been there three or four times. Have you been to any other Bulgarian resort? Not recently. During the 80-s I have been several times to Borovets, but I know that things have changed a lot this winter. Is your cooperation with Bansko going to be long term one? Yes definitely, we have plans for the future, to develop programs for ski training in Bansko, we are also developing specific ski packages. Bansko and Bulgaria definitely are interesting for me. The development is there now. Sites like Germany and Austria are not offering anything new, nothing exiting is happening. Look what has happened in Bansko during the last few years. It is interesting and exciting to be part of all this. Don’t say that you will become instructor in Bansko?? No, I don’t teach. I can’t teach everyone who wants to be my student! Anyway it would be a waste of time. I am working on a special program for ski instructors. I am working over a methodic way to teach instructors, to give my knowledge to more people. And what is the most unique in Bansko, for you as a professional? From a skier’s point of view it is great for the pistes to be among forests. It is very rare and very good, because people can ski in almost all kind of conditions, even in a fog or snow. If it was on open slopes in fog, a person can loose their orientation and it is impossible to ski. Another great feature of Bansko is the wonderful après ski, wonderful entertainment opportunities, the unique atmosphere of the town. In this way Bansko is even better developed than the huge resorts in Austria and Sweden. In general, how does sportsman like you feels after the end of your career? Oh great. Apart from the personal satisfaction, my sport successes brought me a lot of friends and opened a lot of doors for me. What are you doing now after your career? Different things. I was a manager of the longest covered piste in the world Botrop, Germany. Than I started organizing exclusive ski trips. From the autumn of 2004, I have been on the training management of the men’s ski team of Germany. As from this spring I am also working with the Bulgarian Team. What is your opinion for the future of Bulgarian skiing ? Is there a chance for Bulgaria? There is always hope. With the development of resorts like Bansko, more people will have the opportunity to ski. This will help for the new talents to improve. For the training and the high level skiers, the conditions of the country are not that important. I really can’t wait to visit Bansko this winter.