Intro:

Alex Fasser and Michaela Feurle won the senior men's and women's races, respectively, at Gargellen on Sunday (16 March) in the 2014 Ramskull Trophy, part of the Austria Skitour Cup.

Script:

Based at Gargellen, the highest-situated mountain village in Austria's Montafon valley, the latest Ramskull Trophy reached a conclusion on Sunday.

This is skiing at its toughest: competitors are tested over a series of ascents and descents - there is a 'hard' course and, for those less experienced, a 'soft' route.

Skis are fixed to rucksacks and crampons can be worn on a climbing passage.

The route includes a 1400-metre long ridge.

At least one safety carabiner has to be fitted along the whole of this section, otherwise entrants will be disqualified.

And, eventually, the race finishes at the Schafberg Husli mountain restaurant.

A prize pot of 2,600 euros is split between the five fastest men and the quickest five women.

Alex Fasser was the top male, followed by Daniel Zugg and Armin Neurauther - all on home snow.

Fasser crossed the finish line after one hour, 39 minutes and 54.2 seconds.

Michaela Feurle was the female champion eclipsing fellow Austrian Verena Krenslehner-Schmid.

Switzerland's Martina Senn finished third.