Looking Back on MSG2026/Innsbruck & MAG2026/Inzell

January 24-25, 2026:                        17th Masters Sprint Games (Innsbruck/Austria) >>> Result

January 30 – February 1, 2026:          34th Masters Allround Games (Inzell/Germany) >>>Result

The IMSSC (International Masters’ Speed Skating Committee) flagship events for the 2026 season were held back-to-back over two consecutive weeks, starting with the Masters Sprint Games (MSG: January 24-25) in Innsbruck, Austria, and moving to Inzell, Germany the following week for the Masters Allround Games (MAG: January 30 – February 1). All of our Masters athletes and their companions experienced a schedule in a World Cup tour, just like traveling from one World Cup venue to another.

The Innsbruck MSG event was held as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, bringing together 191 Masters athletes (126 men, 65 women) from 18 countries worldwide. Ute Zillmann (Germany), Bruno Toniolli (Italy), and Gaetan Boucher (Canada), who competed in the Olympics 50 years ago, returned to the sacred site after half a century to energize the Masters event. Furthermore, Jalbaar Bujii (Mongolia), who participated in the 1968 Winter Olympics, also joined the competition. Athletes from Ukraine participated for the first time in five years, and a competitor from Poland took part for the very first time.

The day before the competition, a team leaders’ meeting was held at the venue overlooking the Tyrolean mountains, followed by a welcome banquet. Two hundred tables were set up on the landing of the indoor figure skating rink. We took our seats by country and enjoyed the banquet meal. Children who usually practice on the rink served as waiters, bringing us plentiful food. We leisurely savored the luxurious local cuisine—it was an unprecedentedly lavish welcome banquet.

On the first day of the competition, the sunrise from the Tyrolean Alps was late, with the sun peeking out after 8:00 AM. Under clear skies with no wind, the temperature rose sharply as the sun climbed, allowing athletes to comfortably conduct their warm-ups. The competition was divided into three blocks: 1) Men 30-65 years old, 2) Women overall, and 3) Men 65 years and older. Seeding was determined based on each athlete’s personal best times (SB, PB, etc.), crossing age brackets to pair skaters of similar levels (starting with slower times first and faster times last in each group). With around 200 participants, the 500m races also used a quartet start format.

The second day’s events started 30 minutes early due to the snow forecast. Snow began to flutter down in the afternoon. By 3:30 PM, all competitions had concluded. By then, the snow had intensified, blanketing the surroundings in a winter wonderland. Visibility was completely white. That evening, a banquet was held away from the hotel so we had to take a Taxi. The banquet featured a dinner and entertainment consisting of traditional Tyrolean folk music, dance and yodeling followed by an awards ceremony. This banquet ceremony showcased the unique charm of Innsbruck, Austria, making it a deeply memorable experience in Masters Game history.

One day after the fantastic Innsbruck event, approximately 100 participants, primarily the overseas contingent from North America, Asia, and Northern Europe, traveled together to Inzell via a chartered bus arranged by the Innsbruck Organizing Committee. Upon arriving in Inzell, we unexpectedly encountered national team athletes from various countries who were holding their pre-Olympic training camps, providing us with an unforeseen opportunity for interaction.

The Inzell MAG competition, held over three days, brought together 221 athletes (156 men, 65 women) from 20 countries worldwide, including first-time participants from Hungary and Estonia. This marked the largest number of participating nations in IMSSC history. Similar to the previous week’s Innsbruck MSG, the competition was divided into three blocks: (1) Women Overall, (2) Men 65+, and (3) Men 30-65. Pairings were determined based on each athlete’s personal best times (SB, PB), transcending age brackets. On the first day, the Women’s Overall and Men’s 65+ categories competed in two events: the 500m and 1500m. The Men’s 30-65 Group competed only in the 500m. On the second day, the men’s 30-65 group faced a grueling schedule with the 3000m and 1500m races, while the women’s overall and men’s 65+ groups competed only in the 1000m. The final day’s 3000m races started with the women’s overall group by age category, followed by the men’s 65+ group, and concluded with the men’s 30-65 group completing the 5000m.

Following the official practice session the day before the MAG competition from Friday Jan 30, a welcome ceremony was held around the Weizenbier House set up in the center of the rink. After receiving a welcome address from the organizing committee chair, participants enjoyed light locally influenced refreshments while interacting with athletes from various countries. Though simple, it was a truly grand and thrilling moment bringing together over 220 athletes and their support staff under one roof.

The previous weekend the World Cup was held, where a world record was set in the 5000m. As if to respond to the perfectly prepared ice, many SBs and PBs were established with honorable four world records were set during the MAG competition

Women’s 75+ category: 500m, 1500m, 3000m: Judith Smouter (USA)

Men’s 55+ category: 3000m: Martin Hanggi (Switzerland)

After completing the two-week competition spanning the Innsbruck and Inzell events, we boarded a chartered bus with the overseas team and left Inzell the next morning, headed for Munich Airport, and parted ways, promising to reunite with our friends from around the world. We promised to meet again in Gothenburg, Sweden (host of the 2027 MSG), Salt Lake City, USA (host of the 2027 MAG), and Lyon, France (host of the 2027 MIST), before each heading home.

Last but not least, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to both Organizing Committees of Innsbruck MSG2026 and Inzell for MAG2026, the referees, the starters, and everyone involved in preparing and making this wonderful stage possible. Thank you!!!