Fans accept offer

Shuttle service at the World Championships: The driving Dutchmen

Gerdi Verwoert and Django Biallosderski will be driving fans around between the station and the fan mile from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Bild: Urbantschitsch Mario/Mario Urbantschitsch)

55 bus drivers ferry fans back and forth between Maishofen and Hinterglemm in the World Cup shuttles. Among them are two Dutchmen who are cheering on the Austrians.

She used to work as a ski instructor and needed another job after Corona. Gerdi Verwoert drives the Postbuses. She combines her passion for skiing with her work. During the World Championships, she is working as a shuttle driver. ÖBB and SVV are running 500 trips a day from Maishofen station to the World Ski Championships in Hinterglemm. Gerdi says: "I get a positive, good atmosphere. I'm a ski fan myself and follow the races. It's a shame that half the Dutchman (Marcel Hirscher, note) isn't there. But I'm always happy for the Austrians."

41 vehicles, 55 bus drivers, five coordinators and six dispatchers are on duty in Hinterglemm during the World Championships just for the shuttle service.

(Bild: urbantschitsch mario)

"The guests in Holland are more aggressive"
In four years as a bus driver, she has only experienced one aggressive passenger in Salzburg. This is not an issue at the World Ski Championships: "People are just in a good mood and relaxed. I think they simply appreciate this offer."

Her colleague is also from Holland. Django Biallosderski came to Austria 15 years ago for love, his wife is from Niedernsill. He is also an enthusiastic skier himself. He was already a bus driver in Holland. There are differences, as he explains: "In the Netherlands, the passengers are more aggressive, but I've never had a problem here." He never gets bored during the World Championships, even if it's "only" back and forth between Maishofen and Hinterglemm.

The shifts start at six in the morning and end at 5 pm. Biallosderski says: "I normally always drive my tour to Salzburg. This is a change now, it's well organized and I really enjoy it." The drivers are on World Cup duty until Sunday, then it's back to normal service.