
31st Powerman Zofingen: PowerKids and Powerman CHARITY
Leo and Freddy Nock in single use
As in the last two years it rained this year on the first day of the Powerman Zofingen weekend. This time the sun showed up in time for the start of the PowerKids. This was appreciated by around 200 PowerKids and around 150 participants in the Powerman CHARITY, which was held for the second time on Saturday.
On the first competition day of the 31st Powerman Zofingen the children, the families and the CHARITY participants were the centre of attention. Around 200 children between the ages of 1 and 13 were involved in the PowerKids races, divided into five different categories. For the fifth time the category PowerFamily (one parent and at least one child) was added, in which more than 35 people took part. “This is the category that gives me the most pleasure. One parent, together with at least one child, can take part in a competition there that is a lot of fun, which you can also see in their radiant faces,” said Chiara Schaffner, who is responsible for the PowerKids races. “The great joy, the exemplary commitment and the enthusiasm of the children are for us the reward for the work done. »
City council does good
This year the Powerman CHARITY took place for the second time not on Powerman Sunday but on Saturday. The proceeds from the Powerman CHARITY will go to Spittelhof Zofingen and the foundation “Denk an mich” this year. Compared to last year, there was a slight increase with 145 participants. “With Christiane Guyer, Dominik Gresch, Peter Siegrist and Andreas Rüegger, more than half of the city council took part, which I really appreciate,” says Christoph Gassner, responsible for the Powerman CHARITY at Powerman Zofingen. Actually, city mayor Hans-Ruedi Hottiger had also assured his participation. “But I had to pass because of a pulled thigh,” he told me on the phone.
Freddy and Leo Nock in action
In the last Powerman Zofingen anniversary year Freddy Nock had broken the 24 hour world record in the wheel of death. This time the world-famous Uerkheim high rope artist again took part in the Powerman CHARITY. “This time for the first time with my son Leo, of whom I am very proud, he seems to want to follow in my footsteps with high ropes.” Leo had already taken part in the PowerKids competition before. “I trained on the high wire for my double use and in the 5 kilometre run I always had to wait a little for my father. “Kazim Carman finished faster than the Nock duo. The Rothrister Kickbox-Crack, director and actor had trained regularly on the 1’000er-Stägeli in Aarburg. “My heart beats for Andy Hug, the late K1 star would have turned 55 today,” he said and went straight back to his Expo stand. “I can handle these strains easily, I’ve already eaten four standard Kazim bars today.” Sara Bachmann, who took part in the course with her bitch, was again the right person to get her dog. “Aria jumped like a madman, kept pulling me, but would have gone hopeless without my sense of direction.”
On Sunday it’s serious
The 2019 Zofingen ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships will start on Sunday morning at 8am. The women are first and there is good news from a Swiss point of view. Defending champion Petra Eggenschwiler from Solothurn starts: “At least I try, I feel much better than I did at the media conference at the beginning of the week. I don’t know how my foot will feel, I haven’t run for a few weeks.” At 9:00 a.m., the men come to the train. The World Cup programme includes 10 running, 150 cycling and another 30 running kilometres. Teams start at 9:35. At 9.45 am (women) and 9.50 am (men) the Shortdistance-Duathlon starts over 10 running, 50 cycling and 5 running kilometres. Natascha Badmann from Küngoldingen, six-time Ironman Hawaii winner and two-time Powerman Zofingen winner, will also be on display on the short distance course. A summary of the race as well as the decisive phase of the World Championship race will be broadcast live on TV 24 and Tele M1 between 2pm and 4pm. This with the presenter duo Natascha Badmann/Raphael Galliker. There is also a livestream from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. where you can watch the whole race. See www.powerman.swiss, where you can also find a commented live internet stream.
Text: Raphael Galliker