The fair, which took place between 11th and 13th November, presented the ideas of some 161 companies and provided the setting for numerous activities aimed at enthusiasts of winter sports, climbing and active tourism
Professionals from the world of skiing of the stature of Robert Puente, the well-known snowboarder, Fidel Alonso, and the climber and adventurer, Carlos Suárez, among others, played an active part at this edition
After having welcomed a total of 16,661 visitors, the last edition of NATURIVA ESQUI Y MONTAÑA, the Outdoor Sports and Activities Show, finally closed its doors. Organised by IFEMA in collaboration with ATUDEM, the fair presented the ideas of some 161 companies and organised numerous activities aimed at enthusiasts of winter sports, climbing and active tourism.
The fair, which took place between 11th and 13th November, was also the setting chosen by the Madrid Mountain Sports Federation (FMM) to stage different block-climbing competitions sponsored by the Madrid Regional Government. These activities kicked off on Friday 11th November with an exciting Dyno Competition, in which Eric López emerged victorious. Saturday, the day that was attended en masse by members of the public, brought together many of the leading block-climbers from all corners of the country in order to take part in the first edition of “Madrid Eskala n bloke” and the Madrid Block-Climbing Championship 2011. Eric López also emerged as the winner on this occasion, ahead of a competitive Pablo Barbero and Carlos Ruano. The latter achieved third place and, given that he is a member of the Madrid Federation, was awarded the title of Men’s Champion of Madrid 2011.
Cervelló and Heidi Rohwer in third place, who, being a member of FMM, was awarded the title of Women’s Champion of Madrid. On Sunday, the staging of a seven-hour “non-stop” marathon offered a marvellous finale to three addictive days of block-climbing at this edition of the fair. The men’s podium was shared by Carlos González in first place, followed by Francisco Javier Barriga and Sergio Hiruela. The women’s podium was headed by Ana Belén Úbeda, followed by Lorena Morago and Mónica Iglesias.
Furthermore, as a new feature, NATURIVA ESQUI Y MONTAÑA organised a Programme of Talks and Conferences that brought together a number of outstanding professionals from the worlds of skiing, mountain sports and potholing. These participants tackled a series of different themes and practical questions relating to their respective sports. In this respect, we might mention the renowned ski instructor, Robert Puente, the well-known snowboarder, Fidel Alonso, and various different experts in materials, brands and facilities brought together by ATUDEM as part of the promotional programme for “World Snow Day”.
These activities also featured the participation of the Madrid Potholing Federation (FME), which organised a cycle of conferences featuring papers delivered by the following experts: Sergio García-Dils presented the World Depth Record for Caving; Carlos Sánchez Vázquez tackled the Canyon Exploration Project in Peru (GOCTA); and Antonio Ortigosa López addressed the topic of the Subterranean Heritage of the Madrid Region and Its Exploitation. Furthermore, a number of students from the Diploma and Degree in Physical Education and Sports from the University Of Alfonso X El Sabio presented a programme of conferences on adventure travel.
NATURIVA ESQUI Y MONTAÑA was also visited by the climber and adventurer, Carlos Suárez, who signed copies of his new book at the FMM stand entitled “Morir por la cima” (“Dying for theSummit”).
In addition, coinciding with the commencement of the ski season, the fair presented the latest new features at the leading ski resorts in Spain: Nieve Aragón (Aragon Snow Sports), with its Resorts of Astún and Candanchú, not to mention those of the Aramón Group (Cerler, Formigal, Panticosa, Javalambre and Valdelinares) and the Resorts of Baqueira Beret and
Sierra Nevada. Visitors were also able to discover the tourist opportunities available in the following parts of Spain: the Region of Cantabria with its Ski Resort of Alto Campoo; Castile-Leon with its Resorts of San Isidro, La Covatilla, La Pinilla, the Puntos de Nieve of La Lunada, Valle del Sol and El Morredero; Catalonia, which was represented by the Catalan Tourist Board and its diverse range of ideas for the pursuit of Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and climbing, not to mention active tourism and mountain sports destinations at the Delta del Ebro; and the Provincial Council of Huesca, which offered an entire range of ideas in the mountains of the Aragonese Pyrenees. At an international level, the fair presented the latest new ideas in the French Pyrenees and Alps, through the participation of Atout France, as well as the numerous opportunities available at the Andorra stand.
Visitors to NATURIVA ESQUÍ Y MONTAÑA also had the chance to enjoy the fair’s Shopping Area, which witnessed some high levels of attendance and business throughout the event’s three-day duration. Visitors were also able to discover the characteristics and performance features of the latest equipment for the pursuit of these sports in the Innovation Laboratory, a section that presented the fourteen winning products this year at the third edition of the Desnivel Mountain and Outdoor Material Awards.
Other Activities
Other new features at this edition included the following: the participation of the Land-Based Immediate Emergency Response Search and Rescue Team (ERIE BST), which carried out various demonstrations and exhibitions of mountain rescue operations; the Active Tourism section, which featured a number of interesting ideas relating to canyoning, trekking and winter mountain walking, as well as a range of offers at rural hostels, educational programmes, winter-based sports and leisure activities for children and young people; the roller-ski and ski waxing and preparation activities organised by the Madrid Winter Sports Federation; and the Chill Out Area organised by UNIKA FM where visitors could enjoy some good music and attend live performances by groups such as VACIO LEGAL, Sergio “EL Chicky” Campomanes and Manuel del Valle Gil, who is better known as Bman Zerowan.
