Category: Ski Races

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Val Thorens hosts the first stage of the World Cup Ski Cross

Val Thorens World Cup Ski Cross- PhotoL Laurent Salino. Val Thorens Tourism Office. Val Thorens hosts the first stage of the World Cup Ski Cross.

Val Thorens hosts the first stage of the World Cup Ski Cross

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Val Thorens starts the 2019-20 ski season hosting the first stage of the World Cup Ski Cross on 6-7 December. 

Ski Cross World Cup. Photo: C. Ducruet. OT Val Thorens. Val Thorens hosts the first stage of the World Cup Ski Cross.
Ski Cross World Cup. Photo: C. Ducruet. OT Val Thorens. Val Thorens hosts the first stage of the World Cup Ski Cross.

Val Thorens, the highest and more snow-reliable resort in the massive Trois Vallées of France is hosting as every year the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup, which will kick off on 6-7 December with 30 women and 70 men facing each other on the slopes. Within the international line up we’ll have two Britons: Emma Peters and Oliver Davies.

The village of Val Thorens gets very busy this weekend with cheering fans and competitors alike. If you want to view the action, a great spot is on the ‘Jean-Fred Chapuis’ slope, named after the French Olympic champion and Val Thorens local.

During the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup, teams of four compete coming down a course full of bumps and jumps. It is very interesting to see how they make it down (if they do and do not crash on the way) and who makes it first. Obviously, it is lots of fun, even though deep down, people wish the riders to have some falls (I guess not getting hurt!). But this race is definitely not for the faint hearted!

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The ’12 hours Head NonStop’, the toughest test in skiing, arrives in the Sierra Nevada

Archive Cetursa Sierra Nevada.Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift.

The ’12 hours Head NonStop’, the toughest test in skiing, arrives in the Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada resort will host this Saturday the event in which the participants, in individual category or teams, face a huge challenge from 9.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Sierra Nevada welcomes this Saturday, January 26 the “12 hours Head NonStop”, a test of endurance of the harshest of alpine skiing, in which, in individual participants or teams of 2 or 3 members, must keep on skiing uninterruptedly from 9 in the morning until 9 p.m. (this reminds me to the 24 hours of Aspen that were for teams of 2 but skiing all day and all night…24 hours, with time only to breathe on the gondola!)

The skier or team that makes the greatest number of descents in the circuit designed for the competition will be the winner of the second edition of a competition. Last year the winner was the local runner Tato Peinado.

The Maribel and Rio trails illuminated at night. Photo: Archive Cetursa Sierra Nevada. The '12 hours Head NonStop ', the toughest test in skiing, arrives in the Sierra Nevada.
The Maribel and Rio trails illuminated at night. Photo: Archive Cetursa Sierra Nevada. The ’12 hours Head NonStop ‘, the toughest test in skiing, arrives in the Sierra Nevada.

The “12 hours Head NonStop” of Sierra Nevada will take place this Saturday at the Peñones and Perdiz (Borreguiles) tracks, during the day, and on the Maribel track, during the night. The tent for relays and logistics will be installed in the Nevasol restaurant.

The test is conceived as a physical and mental challenge for runners, who must show their skills with their skis, as well as know when to relieve themselves, refresh themselves and rest.

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Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race Mar. 2-3

Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race Mar. 2-3 - New United States Ski Mountaineering Association National Championship. Photo courtesy of Aspen Skiing Company.

Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race Mar. 2-3 – New United States Ski Mountaineering Association National Championship

 For the ninth year in a row, Aspen Snowmass, is scheduled to host the Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race Saturday, Mar. 2. For athletes not quite ready to take on the full course, participants have the option to race the Power of Two that covers the last two mountains of the full route, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain.

New this year, The Power of Four will play host to the National Championships for both the team and vertical disciplines.

Snowmass Burnt Mountain Climb. Photo: Aspen Skiing Company. Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race Mar. 2-3. New United States Ski Mountaineering Association National Championship.
Snowmass Burnt Mountain Climb. Photo: Aspen Skiing Company. Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race Mar. 2-3. New United States Ski Mountaineering Association National Championship.

The new Vertical Race will take place on Aspen Mountain Sunday, Mar. 3 with a 7 a.m. start at the base of the mountain. Racers will skin roughly 2,000 feet to the finish line and awards will be held at the base after the race.

“We are excited to be selected as the host resort for two of this year’s national championship events” says, Daragh Kneeshaw, events marketing manager, Aspen Skiing Company. “As the race grows in popularity each year, we are ready to welcome and watch the top athletes in the US compete on our home stage.”

The Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race is the winter edition of the Power of Four series that includes both a bike and run race in the summer. The ski mountaineering event tests athlete’s endurance as they race in teams of two across all four area mountains on a grueling course that covers 24 miles and more than 10,000 feet of vertical climb. Teams start in Snowmass Village at 6 a.m., traverse to West Buttermilk, skin up Aspen Highlands, including Highland Bowl, ski down the backside of Aspen Highlands along the Congo Trail, skin up Midnight Mine Road and proceed to ski down the front side of Aspen Mountain to complete the race in Gondola Plaza.

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