A long journey that began in virtual reality and included over 3000 participants ended in the very real (winter) world of Westendorf in the Kitzbühel Alps this weekend with the final of the Tiscover Alpine Challenge. Sixty-five participants from five countries battled it out head-to-head in the weird and wonderful disciplines of Minibob Biathlon, Bed Bobsleigh, Rubber Tyre Race and Snowshoe-Cross, with the victor in each discipline winning a place in the grand final and the chance to play for €1 million!

The first event, the Minibob Biathlon, was won by 36-year-old Christian Kogler from Styria, while Benjamin Dobler from Germany and local favourite and wildcard winner Gogo Gossner from Westendorf made it a clean sweep for the men in the first three events by winning the Bed Bobsleigh and Rubber Tyre Race respectively. However, the last discipline, the Snowshoe-Cross, saw 22 year-old former heptathlete Christiane Auerbacher from Munich sprint away from the field and outclass her male competitors through the snowy forest to qualify as the only woman to fight it out for the jackpot.

In a tense grand final, winner Auerbacher did not manage to draw the envelope containing the €1 million ticket, but still went home with a brand new Fiat. “I am over the moon, this is a dream come true for me!” commented the 22-year-old, who, together the other finalists, is already looking forward to the Tiscover Alpine Challenge 2010. Christian Kogler was abandoned by lady luck in the grand final as he failed to draw the one remaining symbol he required to secure the €100,000 prize, but still headed home with a €20,000 holiday voucher.

Photos free of use for editorial purposes: Andreas Schaad and Jörg Mitter for Global Newsroom.com