Nearly 80,000 spectators descended on the Vysočina region this weekend for the biathlon World Cup, with a locally-run caravan park proving a popular lodging option for fans. The park,accommodating up too 60 caravans,was nearly at capacity as of Saturday morning,offering a unique logistical partnership with the local volunteer fire department who manage the site. The arrangement provides fans with convenient access to the vysočina Arena while also generating revenue for essential local services.
Nearly 80,000 fans descended on the Vysočina region this weekend, with a significant portion choosing to stay in a sprawling caravan park set up for the biathlon World Cup event. As of Saturday morning, organizers reported 59 reservations at the 60 available spots.
Jana Ondráčková, the newly appointed head of the local volunteer fire department, explained that her team has been providing caravan parking since the first World Cup event in 2013.
“Many of our members regularly volunteer at events near the Ski hotel, so we already had established relationships with the organizers,” Ondráčková said. “When they approached us, we were happy to offer the space.”
Fans are paying 350 Czech crowns per day for a parking space, plus an additional 250 crowns for adults and 100 crowns for children. The fire department plans to reinvest the earnings into improving their facilities.
The winter weather has presented some challenges. “During the rainy championships in 2024, we had to bring in wood chips because the caravans were getting stuck,” Ondráčková explained. “This year, getting in and setting up has been easier, but we’ve had issues with frozen water in the toilets and showers, and we’ve had to spread salt to make the paths safe.”
Some spots in the caravan park have seen multiple occupants over the course of the event. “We had German fans who drove directly from Ruhpolding (where races were held the previous week) and then left, with new fans arriving to take their place on Saturday,” Ondráčková noted.
Caravan Life Suits Biathlon Fans
A group of friends who traveled from the Královéhradecký region in four caravans were embracing the cold. “It’s freezing, like in a winter wonderland, and everything is beautifully frosted,” one woman said. “We’re experienced winter travelers. If you live in a camper, you know what to bring.”
“We travel everywhere in a caravan, but this is our first biathlon event,” said Radek Drusan, spokesperson for the group from Jičín and Dvora Králové. “Our friends have been to biathlon before, but this is their first time in a caravan because they couldn’t find other accommodation.”
The Vysočina Arena is just a two-kilometer walk from the caravan park in Maršovice, eliminating transportation concerns for fans.
Veronika Patáková, who arrived with her husband from Kladno, also enjoyed the experience. “We slept in the caravan, it was warm, and it’s great. Our friends came to visit us this morning and found a spot nearby,” she said. The couple arrived Friday and planned to stay for the entire weekend.
The vast majority of caravan visitors are Czech, with Germans making up roughly 20 percent. This year also saw fans from Sweden and Slovakia. Many fans quickly bonded with their neighbors, though one common complaint emerged: the Moravians brought too little plum brandy.
Photo: Jiří Bárta, Novinky
