Grandvalira is a firm candidate to host the men’s finals of the Alpine Ski Cup in the forthcoming 2013-2014 season. The resort’s candidature was confirmed by Markus Waldner, continental cup coordinator for the FIS (International Ski Federation) men’s European Cup, who praised the good organisation and the excellent condition of the Avet slope at both the European Cup events over the weekend and the World Cup competition last year. These are key points, he said, in making Grandvalira a serious candidate to host the World Cup finals next year.
Also hoping to organise the competition is the Italian resort of Tarvisio. The final decision will be taken in May this year, at the Calendar Conference in Dubrovnik (Croatia). The successful candidate will organise the men’s European finals in the Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G and Downhill disciplines over six competition days in 2014.
With its excellent slopes and superb facilities, Grandvalira is perfectly prepared to host an event of this kind. This is partly because, besides the Avet slope, work is also underway on the Àliga slope in El Tarter sector, where the course was altered in 2012 to adapt it for top competition. This summer, an artificial snow system will be installed with a view to obtaining official FIS approval for the Àliga slope as a competition venue.
Looking to the future: the World Cup
According to Conrad Blanch, Managing Director of Grandvalira-Ensisa, the weekend’s events went off “completely satisfactorily”. Now, he says, all efforts are centred on hosting the World Cup: “organising the European Cup is the best possible advert for our destination, and we are keen to continue to host first-class competitions like the World Cup in future”.
Race Director Jordi Pujol agreed. “The slope was spectacular, easily World Cup standard, and it held up perfectly all weekend, without the need for water injection. Both the skiers and the experts tell me that Avet is a difficult World Cup slope, and is not a European Cup course”. Avet was a highly demanding slope and, as a result, says Pujol, “the best European Cup skiers, who also regularly take part in the World Cup, negotiated it well. The others, who only compete in the European Cup and the FIS Cup, found it rather more difficult.”
Exciting day two at Soldeu
The weekend’s events at Grandvalira were packed with excitement. Tension was at a height on the Avet slope in Soldeu, with suspense in the second round, right up to the end of the race, as the 51 skiers taking part in the European Cup Giant Slalom gave their all as they battled against the clock.
The leader board changed again and again until, finally, the Italian skier Luca de Aliprandini settled the competition with a fantastic descent. No one could come close to De Aliprandini all morning, and a fourth-best time in the second round was enough to seal the Italian’s victory with a final time of 2m14s12.
Despite being eliminated on the previous day after losing control, and producing rather disappointing results in recent European Cup events, De Aliprandini is starting to hit form again just ahead of the finals in Sochi. Asked about competition conditions at Grandvalira, De Aliprandini described the Avet slope as “demanding”, with a “highly technical layout” worthy of the World Cup.
Victor Malmstrom raced neck-and-neck with the Italian until finally forced to settle for second place with a time of 2m15s05. Despite a disappointing performance on Saturday, when he ended in 22nd position, his second place today was no surprise. Malmstrom has been producing excellent results this season, coming second at Les Menuires and winning in the European Cup event in Levi in early-February.
Third in the Giant Slalom was Thomas Tumler, who finally earned himself a place on the podium at Grandvalira after going very close on Saturday, when he clocked up the sixth-best time. Tumler crossed the finish line with a final time of 2m15s24 to consolidate a good run of results that also includes second place at the European Cup in Les Menuires a few weeks ago.
Marcel Mathis, ranked 12th in the world in the Giant Slalom and one of the favourites at Soldeu, had to settle for fifth place. Despite clocking in the best time in the second round with 1m06s63, the French skier could finish no better than in fifth place, as his below-average performance in the first round (25th best time) dashed his hopes of making the podium.
Elia Zurbriggen, star of the first day’s competition, met an even worse fate. This son of the legendary Pirmi Zurbriggen and winner on the first day was eliminated in the first round after losing control halfway down the course.
Pol Rocamora achieves his best European Cup result this season
Pol Rocamora turned in his best performance of the season on this second day of the European Cup. Making an epic descent, as the course layout forced the Spanish Winter Sports Federation skier to pull out all the stops, Rocamora crossed the finish line in 32nd place. With a time of 2m20s19, the Spaniard bettered his results at recent European Cup events. His previous best place this season was nothing special: 49th place in the overall standings at Zouz-St Moritz in December.
“I felt good in the first round, but then I made a slight mistake on the flat in the second round, and that let me down” said Rocamora, before going on to congratulate Grandvalira for its “good organisation” of the event. “I hope there will be more competitions at Grandvalira, because the preparation and the conditions are the best on the circuit, without doubt”, was the young skier’s endorsement.
For his part, Rocamora’s compatriot Pol Carreras crossed the line in 36th place with a time of 2m20s59. Carreras has not had much luck in 2013, having been unable to complete a European Cup event, and this was his best result of the season so far.
“This is the first time I have taken part in a European Cup event at Grandvalira. I really enjoy competing here”, said Carreras, who was also happy with the Soldeu course. “Avet is a highly technical slope, but it’s also really challenging for a skier. You can’t relax for one second, and you’re on your last legs when you get to the final wall.”