Snow Plough Euro 2024
Who is the best snowplow driver in Europe? This will be decided at the "Snow Plough Euro 2024", which will be held on Thursday, 26th September 2024 at the Mendig Airfield by the German Federal Highway Authority “Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes”.
Snowplow driving in the summer - that sounds like fun at first, but it has a serious background.
The championship recognizes the valuable work our colleagues do for society. Every day, our road crews ensure that the highway and road network functions properly, thus making a significant contribution to the safety of road users. The focus is on winter services, which can only function properly if man and machine are perfectly coordinated. For this reason, the master craftsmen regularly train for winter service - even in the summer.
Source: Austrian PIARC Committee for Winter Services
Programme
Thursday, 26th September (final)
8:00 am – 1:30 pm
First pass of all teams + qualification for the final
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Final of the 12 best teams
6:30 pm
Award ceremony + winners party
Course
At the European Snowplough Championships, 29 European teams take part in a 450-metre-long dexterity course in which they have to complete 14 tests (15 disciplines) based on real-life situations in a snowplough driver's working day. For example, the drivers have to manoeuvre their winter service vehicles through narrow passages at service areas in snow and ice, through narrow emergency lanes on motorways or along narrow country roads. They demonstrate this ability in the disciplines of slalom driving, passing through a lane or negotiating narrow wooden bridges.
It is also important to be able to approach a salt silo with centimetre precision in order to load the spreader. The contestants put this skill to the test in the "stopping at an obstacle while reversing" discipline. Last but not least, they have to move large quantities of snow with the plough precisely to the unloading point, even when space is limited. And this is exactly what they have to do in the dexterity course, when they have to push three PVC pipes or a barrel into a marked field with the snow plough.
Visitors Programme
For the final of the championship on Thursday, 26th September you are very welcome to join us! In addition to the competitions, a great programme awaits you. Admission is free!
- Moderated live transmission of the championship on the big screen
- Large vehicle and equipment exhibition
- Exhibition of winter maintenance vehicles
- Exhibition of various companies
- Recruiting stand of Autobahn GmbH
- Food and drink will also be provided:
Food and ice cream vans, drinks stand, coffee and waffle van
Laacher Lake Volcanic Region
The Laacher Lake glistens in the middle of the picturesque Eifel landscape. It is hard to believe that around 13,000 years ago, tonnes of rock were hurled into the air and huge flows of volcanic ash flowed through the valleys.
You can discover the traces of this ancient volcanism on beautiful walks in this impressive landscape, especially around the impressive Laacher Lake.
For those who prefer a more leisurely pace, there is also the opportunity to explore many geologically interesting sites by car along the German Volcano Route. Be enchanted by the beauty of this region and discover its unique flora and fauna, its traditions and customs, and its regional delicacies.
Whether on foot, by bicycle, on the historic Volcano Express, by car or by motorbike, the Laacher See volcanic region offers you numerous opportunities to get to know the land and its people!
Source: www.vulkanregion-laacher-see.de
Travel
Flugplatz Mendig, Hangar 7
Navigation address:
Am alten Fort 110, 56743 Mendig
(Coordinates 50.359041, 7.307613)
By car
Coming from the A61:
- Take exit 35-Kruft
- Coming from Bonn:
Keep to the right at the junction (signs for Mayen/Kruft-West)
Coming from Koblenz:
Turn left onto the B256 (signposted Mayen/Kruft) - Follow the B256 for about 5.8km and then turn left onto the L120/"Am alten Fort"
- Follow the road for approx. 900m and then turn left into the south entrance “Einfahrt Süd” via the road “Am alten Fort”
- Free parking is available on site
By public transport
- By train:
- Take the train to Andernach station
- From Andernach station, take the regional train RB23 in the direction of Mayen Ost and get off at Mendig station
- From Mendig station:
- From Mendig station you can either take a taxi or
- Walk about 2 km along Bahnstraße and “Am alten Fort”
Contact us
Images
Any questions?
Contestant contacts
Dr.-Engr. Horst Hanke
Chairman of the FGSV Winter Services Committee
E-mail: horsthanke[@]yahoo[.]de
Michael Bersch
Operations and Traffic Division
Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes
(German Federal Highway Authority)
E-mail: michael.bersch[@]autobahn[.]de
Nikola Svetic
Operations and Traffic Division
Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes
(German Federal Highway Authority)
E-mail: nikola.svetic[@]autobahn[.]de
Sebastian Kraft
Operations and Traffic Division
Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes
(German Federal Highway Authority)
E-mail: sebastian.kraft[@]autobahn[.]de
Visitor and press contact
Dr. Stephanie Kühr-Gilles, Eileen Hentschel, Maurice Kaluscha
Corporate Communications
Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes
(German Federal Highway Authority)
Images
![coming soon.png](https://www.autobahn.de/storage/_processed_/a/c/csm_coming_soon_ab40e87697.webp)
Snow Plough Euro 2024
Photos to follow at a later date!