The same as every year, two weeks before the Audi FIS World Cup start in Sölden/ AUT (27 and 28 October), the organisers of the Crans-Montana Ladies’ World Cup races have opened online ticket sales for the « Crans-Montana » (south) and « Fan Clubs » (east) grandstands. This is for both race days, the Downhill on Saturday 23 and the Alpined Combined on Sunday 24 February 2019.

The price is CHF 30.00 per race or CHF 50.00 for both days together. Children (age 6-15), members of Swiss-Ski as well as holders of the Valais passport enjoy special deals. Don’t wait too long, book your ticket online now. It’s simple, and the best way. Based on experience, the grandstands fill up very quickly, and are always full on race days.

purchase online

Access to all other sectors in the finish stadium and along the piste, is free.

The Organisation Committee  for the Crans-Montana Alpine ski races is delighted to welcome our dedicated spectators, and promises them great racing and rematches once again on the demanding Mont Lachaux piste, just a few days after the World Championships in Åre/SWE (4 - 17 February).

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For the third time, the Friends of the Crans-Montana World Cup met for a delicious raclette served at « La Bergerie du Cervin » restaurant in Vermala. This very pleasant get together was a perfect success, and a chance to get into the mood, ready for the start of the 2018/9 World Cup in a few days. It will be stopping off in the Valais Haut-Plateau region on 23 and 24 February 2019. On the programme of « our » classic Ladies’ annual event, a Downhill and Alpine Combined (Downhill/Slalom). These races will be preceded by the two European Cup downhill races planned on 16 and 17 February.

Marius Robyr, the charismatic President of the Crans-Montana World Cup Organisation Committee, addressed the FRIENDS with plenty of humour and imagination, and presented the 2019 edition to those gathered, not forgetting the additional programme which will include, amongst other events, a second huge celebration of popular music on the Saturday evening, 23 February, in the tennis centre at Le Régent Congress Centre. You’ll be delighted as there are some great musicians on the programme ! The line-up and ticket sales will be announced shortly. Of course, he didn’t fail to mention the evolution of work on the Crans-Montana/Valais 2025 bid, the logo and Corporate Design having just been successfully unveiled. There was a surprise visit from Nicolas Féraud, president of the commune of Crans-Montana, who came to lend his unfaltering support to the Crans-Montana FIS Alpine Ski World Cup races.  

A woodfire raclette without the sound of an accordian is unimaginable ! Les Amis de Sonville (Nendaz) did a great job of entertaining at the friendly event. The FRIENDS present had the honour of being the first to receive and wear the 2019 Crans-Montana World Cup hat; the colour changes every year. The new look is really nice: dark blue trimmed with an orange edge, with white writing which stands out wonderfully. It will be on sale for CHF 20.00 from 1st December 2018  in the Crans-Montana Tourism and Congress offices.

Whilst walking with his family in the Vermala area, Jean-Claude Biver, the dynamic entrepreneur  watchmaker and manager didn’t for a minute hesitate to join the Friends of the Crans-Montana World Cup, delivering a message full of positivity. We will be noting this phrase : « We can’t advance towards tomorrow without yesterday » !

Would you like to join the FRIENDS OF THE CRANS-MONTANA WORLD CUP, which already numbers some 270 people ? It’s very simple, just fill in the form on our website, in the « Spectators » section. The World Cup committee welcomes all new members with great pleasure.

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Raclette 18

In the centre of Sweden, in Åre, preparations for the next Alpine Ski World Championships are in full swing. They’ll be celebrating an astonishing new feature: in the centre of this friendly ski resort, Swiss Ski’s traditional « House of Switzerland » will once again exist, but for the first time, it will be a large mobile wooden chalet designed and constructed in Switzerland, and transported to Sweden in three large trucks, for all the ski world to meet in. This is also the place where Swiss medal winners will be celebrated. An additional very positive point for the House of Switzerland: the HofS will only be three minutes on foot from the location for the prizegiving ceremonies.

The 2025 Crans-Montana/Valais FIS World Championships bid will be the main partner in this challenge. During the site inspection, Hugo Steinegger, executive vice-director of the bid committee, took the opportunity to send wishes for good luck and great success to Niklas Carlsson, CEO for the World Championships and chairman of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup committee, on behalf of the Crans-Montana/Valais bid committee.

Christof Stalder, whose business Woopdesign (Bern/Berthoud) made the 20-tonne wooden chalet, discussed the last technical details with Stefan Dohrn, head of construction in Åre, and proudly presented a model of the interior layout of the restaurant, to which will be added a large bar and a stage, and where Valais specialities (wine, raclette and air-dried meat) in particular will be highlighted throughout the whole period of the 2019 World Championships (5-17 February). Here will also be the place where Swiss Medallist will be celebrated.

Alpine ski races in Crans-Montana have always been a great success. They started in 1911, with the first downhill in skiing history. Then came the first FIS World Cup race in 1977, the unforgettable

1987 World Championships,  and since 2016, the annual World Cup ladies’ classic. Now an important new chapter is on the horizon, the return of the Alpine World Ski Championships to the Haut-Plateau region.

The Crans-Montana/Valais 2025 bid has to be conducted with energy, emotion and confidence.

On Wednesday 3 October 2018, Marius Robyr, executive director of the Crans-Montana/Valais bid for the organisation of the 2025 Alpine World Ski Championships, had the great pleasure of unveiling the logo for the bid. This took place in the presence of representatives of local authorities, the media and other guests. The logo is a judicious union of the canton of Valais, the destination of Crans-Montana and the FIS International Ski Federation Alpine World Ski Championships. Marius Robyr describes it as dynamic, modern and convincing, a logo which creates strong links and ties.

• The red star represents Valais. It features in the centre of the 2025 figure positioned so that its base represents a stylised mountain. This clearly positions the logo as an Alpine sport logo.
• The sky-blue curve symbolises the energy of alpine ski disciplines. It is a central dynamic element, and features in other colours too, in all Corporate Design use related to the bid.
• The Crans-Montana logo flanked by the Swiss flag clearly marks the centre of the logo. In white on a blue background for maximum impact and contrast. Just below, the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships text in the centre adds the necessary balance.

The design of the new SMC bus– the first model –displays the main elements of the new image for the bid. The common theme; competence, and a passion for competition alpine skiing, uniting the past, present and future.  

The bus sports :

• The impressive panorama of the mountains in Crans-Montana, which is used as a background, symbolising the arena in which the World Championship races take place.
• The logo on a dark blue background,as presented above, referring to the destination of Crans-Montana and to Valais, with the presence of the red star that crowns the logo.
• Commitment, passion and energy for competition skiing are highlighted by red curves which run along the sides of the bus,
• And, alongside the picture of the skier Michelle Gisin, also remind us of ski tracks in the different disciplines in the FIS Ski World Championships – from the downhill to the Super-G, to the technical disciplines.

All of these elements combined lend to the bid the desired character, strength and modernity.

This  friendly meeting about the bid took place at the CMA cable car « Barzettes » car park. In brief addresses, Martial Kamerzin, president of the ACCM (Crans-Montana Association of Communes), Philippe P. Magistretti, director of the CMA cable cars, and Patrick Cretton, director of the SMC (Compagnie de Chemin de Fer et d’Autobus) transport company, declared that they were united in fully supporting the « challenge » of the Crans-Montana/Valais bid for the organisation of the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

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Before the launch of the winter season, the FIS International Ski Federation carries out an annual inspection of every site that organises World Cup races. For the 2019 races in Crans-Montana, this took place on Wednesday 12 September.

On the programme for this 2019 edition in the Haut-Plateau region, Ladies’ European Cup races on 16 and 17 February (two Downhills, preceeded by two training sessions on 14/15.02) and the Ladies’ World Cup on Saturday 23 February (Downhill) and Sunday 24 (Alpine Combined with Downhill/Slalom) as well as two Downhill training sessions on 21 and 22.02.

The inspection was led by the duo (title photo) Atle Skaardal, FIS chief race director Ladies’ World Cup, and Marius Robyr, president of the Crans-Montana Organisation Committee. They were joined by their closest collaborators and representatives from the RTS (Télévision Suisse Romande), the official broadcasters for the Crans-Montana World Cup, the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and Swiss-Ski.

Particularly careful attention was paid during the visit to the Mont Lachaux piste and its key places, to the position of TV cameras and organisation of the departure and finish zones. Other important points were also addressed, such as piste preparation, the number of machines on site 24h/24, the emergency services, demarcation of "Spectator" zones, the Media services (Main Media Centre at « Le Régent » and the Media Sub-Centre on the roof of the finish area building), photographers’ positions, team accommodation, draws for bibs and public prizegiving, fees and administration. The European Cup races were also on the agenda, in the presence of their new FIS coordinator, Wim Rossel. The meeting was characterised by the close working relationship between all participants throughout an intense yet magnificent day’s work. The FIS representatives provided a few pointers to once again continue to improve the general organisation of this extremely attractive annual Ladies’ Classic.

DEPREZphotos Sa, Crans-Montana

Inspection

Since 1997, Swiss-Ski has been successfully running the « House of Switzerland » during each FIS World Ski Championships. This traditional international meeting point for sponsors and partners, athletes and their entourage, media representatives and ski fans is much appreciated, and it’s inconceivable to think of these important meets without it. The top ski nations also all have their own version of it.

A highly valuable international presence for the 2025 Candidature and the classic Women’s World Championships

The role of the « House of Switzerland » is even more important when bidding for the organisation of the World Championships in your own country. Just like the extremely positive partnership between Swiss-Ski and St. Moritz for the bid phase, as well as the 2003 and 2017 World Championships, which were held in this resort in the Grisons.

This honour now passes to Crans-Montana and its 2025 bid. The first part, before the 2020 votes, will take place during the next World Championships in 2019 (4-17.02.) in Åre, Sweden. There is no doubt that this presence on an international scale will also benefit the annual classic Women’s World Cup in Crans-Montana.

Irrespective of the results of the FIS board vote at its congress in June 2020, the Crans-Montana/Valais bid being the main partner of the « House of Switzerland » offers an excellent and unique opportunity on an international level. This partnership with Swiss-Ski allows Crans-Montana and Valais to, amongst other things, include their local produce in the gastronomic selection of this sought-after venue.

A worthwhile partnership

Besides the Crans-Montana/Valais Bid Committee’s main partnership with the « House of Switzerland », Swiss-Ski has secured the support of a main sponsor, four sponsors, two media partners and also a number of service providers for the project. As no existing restaurant in Åre was suitable to be transformed into the 12^th « House of Switzerland », Swiss-Ski decided to build a « mobile » chalet, like the Austrian Ski Federation, to include a restaurant (80 places), a large bar with a stage, and also a kitchen. The approximate area of the building, which will be located on rented land in an excellent area in the centre of Åre, 500 m from the finish stadium, is 25 x 15 metres (see plans below). The three adjacent SRF, RTS and RSI TV studios, where athlete interviews will take place, are a real bonus for the « House of Switzerland ».

According to comments from the Organisation Committee for the St.Moritz World Championships, this partnership with Swiss-Ski is most definitely worth it.

As part of the festivities for the 125^th anniversary of Crans-Montana, every ten days until October, twelve giant letters that make up the name of the resort will be unveiled in as many unique locations within the boundaries of the commune, highlighting twelve walks, and twelve themes closely linked to the development of the Haut-Plateau region, and narrated by … twelve emblematic figures from the area. Here’s the link explaining the concept : https://www.crans-montana.ch/en/125_ans/

That brings us to the letter M. The honour goes to Marius Robyr, the dynamic president of the FIS World Cup races in Crans-Montana, and executive director of the Crans-Montana/Valais 2025 bid for organisation of the Alpine Ski World Championships. It’s impossible to choose a better location than that chosen for « his » M. It is in fact fixed at an altitude of 2,543 metres, on the terrace of the Bella Lui restaurant, with awe-inspiring views. And…? It is located  only a few metres from the departure point of the Men’s Downhill at the fabulous 1987 World Championships, which were held on the legendary Nationale piste. Unforgettable : a Swiss victory which was celebrated times four, thanks to Peter Müller (1^st), Pirmin Zurbriggen (2^nd), Karl Alpiger (3^rd) and Franz Heinzer (4^th) !

As for the pistes for the current Crans-Montana/Valais 2025 bid, it is once again Bella Lui that will witness the departure of the Men’s Downhill. Below, Marius Robyr recounts the history of those great skiing events that have been, and still are, so important for Crans-Montana. (NB: this sequence was registred before the Olympic Games Sion 2026 votations.)

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Lettre M

The 51^st  FIS International Ski Congress has just taken place in Costa Navarino, Greece from 13 to 19 May 2018. It takes place every two years, bringing together some 1,100 delegates from 80 nations. The Crans-Montana World Cup Races Organisation Committee was represented by the president, Marius Robyr, and the two vice-presidents, Markus Murmann and Hugo Steinegger (photo).

From 2021 onwards, the annual World Cup races will take place in January

In regards to Alpine Skiing, the FIS revealed the new World Cup calendar for the next four years, 2018/19 - 2021/22. Crans-Montana is delighted. As of the 2020/21 season, the Valais resort will see see its events take place in the third week of January, as it had hoped (and not anymore in February/March, after the World Championships or Winter Olympics).

Crans-Montana, a key site for speed events

The FIS appreciates the demands and attractiveness of the famous Mont Lachaux piste, and wants to focus now on speed events. Therefore Crans-Montana is very much becoming a « Ladies Classic », which bodes well for the future World Championships.

The Ladies World Cup calendar in Crans-Montana, from 2018/19 until 2021/22:

23/24 February 2019      Downhill and Alpine Combined (Downhill/Slalom)
22/23 February 2020      Downhill and Super-G
23/24 January 2021        Downhill and Super-G
22/23 January 2022        Downhill and Super-G

Crans-Montana continues the important backing of the next generation, in particular in the domain of women’s speed events, by organising the European Cup races just a few days before the World Cup. In 2019 : two downhill events are on the programme (16/17 February).

There was great interest during the Congress in the election by the FIS Council of the host site for the 2023 FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships. Two candidates were in the running. Courchevel-Méribel/France (9 votes) won, ahead of Saalbach-Hinterglemm/Austria (6 votes). The next Alpine Ski World Championships will therefore take place in: Åre/SWE (5-17.02.2019), Cortina d’Ampezzo/ITA (9-21.02.2021) and Courchevel-Méribel (6-19 February 2023).

Photo: Zoom Agency

Costa Navarino

The  Crans-Montana Alpine Skiing World Cup Organisation Committee congratulates their president Marius Robyr for his splendid success, accompanied by his sons Stéphane and Alexandre, in the Patrouille des Glaciers (Arolla-Verbier) 2018.

For the ex-commandant of the PdG (1990-2008), his biggest dream has finally come true: after four unsuccessful attempts in the race, the brigadier crossed the finish line of this legendary race for the first time today. 

Well done the Robyr threesome!

PdG

Le Matin Dimanche (22.04.2018) has published a very touching article about Marius Robyr and his sons. The Patrouille des Glaciers is a mission accomplished this time !

 

In what has become a tradition, the transition from the 2018 to the 2019 FIS World Cup races (23 and 24 February 2019) took place in the enchanting setting of the Domaine de Balavaud in Vétroz, home territory of our dynamic and generous « Wine » sponsor, Jean-René Germanier (seen in the photo with Marius Robyr at the beginning of this section on the home page). On Wednesday 21 March, Jean-René Germanier extended an invitation to the Organisation Committee alongside several guests, that included Martial Kamerzin, President of the Crans-Montana Association des Communes, Grégoire Jirillo, head of the canton of Valais Service des Sports, and also Bruno Huggler, Director of Crans-Montana Tourism.

The evening began with a visit to the impressive cellars, with stops for wine tasting, and was followed by a delicious raclette served in the beautiful two century-old vaulted cellar in which the very first grape harvest was vinified in 1896 ! This year, the evening was particularly special. After thanking those present for the huge amount of work they’d done for the successful 2018 races, and after presenting a birthday gift to Sophie Genoud, the precious Organisation Committee secretary, it was time for a surprise. A few hours ahead of time, guests celebrated the 70th birthday of our highly respected committee president, Marius Robyr ! Happy Birthday and cheers, Mr President ! https://youtu.be/iH3oOVKt0WI?t=1

Are you looking for THE best place to stock your wine cellar ? You’ve found it. We highly recommend the wine from Jean-René Germanier du Domaine de Balavaud.

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Germanier