The IMS Countdown has Started

This year the program of the mountain festival is again full of highlights and exciting presentations by top mountaineers, walks in the Dolomites, congresses and round tables as well as fun and entertainment. In the evening, on occasion of the traditional “warming down”, we offer traditional food and drinks with typical Tyrolean food and wine and live music from all over the world.

This year’s mountain festival in Brixen focuses on the topic of rope teams. But it is not only referring to the topic of mountaineering itself, but it is meant also in the sense of an everyday life philosophy. The rope team creates a synergy, which is based on friendship, trust and a common vision. One plans something together and fights for it together. Fears and hopes are shared as well as success and joy. 17 worldwide known mountaineers will come on stage together in a rope team and talk about their adventures.

The famous mountaineers and climbers, who will visit the IMS are: The presently most famous female mountaineer, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, who was the first woman to climb all the eight-thousanders without oxygen. She will come on stage together with her husband Ralf Dujmovits. Further guests will be the Spanish climber, Josune Bereziartu together with Rikar Otegui. Father and son, Marco and Hervé Barmasse, who are part of the Italian elite climbers.

Also Steve Swenson will be on stage who by being awarded the Piolets D’Or, became an important talking point this year.

Then the IMS will present brotherly rope teams such as the rope team of the brothers Pou from Spain, the brothers Favresse from Belgium and last but not least the brothers Riegler from South Tyrol. Edurne Pasaban, another Grand Dame in climbing, will also give us the honour at the IMS. She will do her presentation together with her rope partner and cousin, Asier Izagirre. The most famous mountaineer in the world, Reinhold Messner, will present his speech entitled „Move mountains“ for the very first time in South Tyrol. We are referring to his motivational talk, which he normally holds mainly for entrepreneurs.

The new film entitled “Messner“, experiences its first night in a festival on occasion of the IMS.
Moreover, the renowned TrentoFilmFestival organizes a movie day. Besides various photo exhibitions, for example the Valsesia – Faces of the mountain pastures“ in the City Gallery Brixen, as well as the multimedia presentations of the 16 mountaineers and the presentations of the winners of the Gore-Tex® project „Win your presentation at the IMS“, there are also 9 conferences on recent and controversial topics which will be analysed from different points of view. The central conference of the IMS 2012 carries the title „Walking the tightrope between success and failure“ Alpinism and economy – Learn from both fields of power“, which will take place on Friday, October 26th at 6.00 p.m.. In this congress the top-class panel speakers will analyse how you can transform failures into chances and how someone can walk along this fine line in a safe and profitable way. The speakers will be amongst others Marc Girardelli, Alberto Alessi and Reinhold Messner.

Seven important partners use the opportunity to support the mountain festival and present the results of their own research, studies and their mountain philosophy on stage. Thus during this week we will talk about immigration and emigration in the Alps, about the freedom in the mountains together with the Italian alpine club (CAI) and about the safety in the mountains in the conference entitled “Fun in the mountains. We do not bother about the risk“. We will also analyse the most recent topics such as architecture and mountains and climatic change and permafrost in the conference entitled “Do the mountains collapse on us?“. The EURAC brings together experts from all over Europe in one conference in order to discuss the topic of sustainable mountain tourism and the ISPO will organize a workshop for retailers in order to understand the changes in outdoor market and be able to react more successfully.

The more active part of the IMS is not missing either. The IMS walks take all our mountain lovers to the most beautiful hiking trails in the Dolomites together with famous mountaineers.

Action is also guaranteed thanks to the workshop on occasion of the Arc’teryx Climbing Days with Josune Bereziartu, Ines Papert and Martin Riegler amongst others, who will reveal their climbing secrets. Under the motto „ bouldering and celebrating as much as you can“ the climbing hall in Brixen invites you to the AVS bouldering night on October 26th , 2012.

And thus, once again, Brixen will become the centre for international alpinism and mountain lovers. The IMS is intended as a meeting for famous mountaineers and climbers, for experts in different areas connected to mountains but first of all it is an occasion to exchange ideas and a get to know other mountaineers from all over the world.

Since September, the advance ticket sales for the International Mountain Summit have started. On the website www.IMS.bz you can buy the tickets at a discount price up to 3 days before the opening of the IMS. Many events are free of charge.

The ticket prices for 2012 are as follows:

14 EUR for presentations and talks, 80 EUR for excursions including lunch and transfer money, 15 EUR for the participation at the Arc’teryx Climbing Days with climbing workshops, 6 EUR for film evening. The central congress “Walking the tightrope between success and failure“ – Alpinism and economy – Learning from two fields of power“ costs 85 EUR. Many congresses and round tables are free of charge. Get informed on the ticket prices and discounts online at www.ims.bz.

The International Mountain Summit takes place from October 20th to 27th, 2012 in the Forum in Brixen, South Tyrol.