Top teams to feature at historic European Tour stop in Ukraine

Europe’s top Snow Volleyball teams are travelling later this week to Turkey for the first stop of this year’s CEV Snow Volleyball European Tour in Kahramanmaras, but many are due to contest next week’s European Tour premiere in Ukraine as well. As per the confirmed registration lists, teams from as many as 11 countries will be competing in Truskavets – as the European Tour literally breaks new ground with the very first such stop held in the Eastern European country.

Elite Snow Volleyball teams from Ukraine and Russia, as well as quartets from Italy, Poland, Belgium and Romania will have another opportunity to compete at the highest level in Truskavets only a few days after the conclusion of the season opener in Turkey. The expectations are obviously high for the home favourites from Ukraine – who last year claimed men’s gold at the second of two consecutive European Tour stops held in Wagrain, Austria.

Men’s teams from Austria and the Czech Republic will join the European Tour for the first time this winter when they travel to Truskavets, with the Austrian trio (Florian Schnetzer, Moritz Fabian Kindl and Mathias Seiser) hoping to repeat their silver medal winning performance from last year’s first event on home snow in Wagrain. Kindl and Seiser recently finished in second place at a national tour stop held at the iconic Patscherkofel in Innsbruck, after losing the final to a German quartet.

Athletes from the Republic of Moldova will be making their historic European Tour debut in Truskavets, as Snow Volleyball continues to expand its horizons and to involve more and more countries. In doing so, Moldova will replicate the feat achieved this coming weekend in Kahramanmaras by a team representing Gibraltar.

Apart from the 16 men’s teams due to contest the Main Draw, additional players from Russia and Ukraine compose the reserve list – and they will join the competition should any spot in the Main Draw become available by the time the tournament in Truskavets gets underway.

The women’s list features 11 teams from six countries – including a former ‘Queen of the Snow’ in Anna Dostalova of the Czech Republic. Two Czech teams will find their opposition in trios or quartets representing Italy, Poland, Romania, Turkey and hosts Ukraine.

As with the season opener in Turkey, the competition will follow the double elimination format to provide all participating teams with as many opportunities as possible to contest international matches and develop their skills.

Snow Volleyball competitions are taking place this winter in a number of different environments other than the more natural settings provided by renowned ski resorts. After Hungary hosted their national championships in Budapest downtown shortly before the holiday season, the European Tour stop in Truskavets explores a different concept as well – with the courts made available right next to the hotel where the participating teams will be staying. This shows that promoters and stakeholders interested in growing the sport can all come up with their favourite concept to deliver an exciting competition on the snow and help grow the youngest and coolest version of the Volleyball game!