Deeply saddened, the Crans-Montana World Cup races organisation committee would like to express their deepest condolences to the family of the ski patroller whose life was taken in the avalanche whilst working in the ski area.

In agreement with the International Ski Federation, the race programme has been maintained and confirmed for both the downhill training (Thursday 21/ Friday 22 February), and for the races (Saturday 23/Sunday 24 February, as well as for the ceremonies taking place at the ice rink on Friday and Saturday from 17.30 onwards.

A moment of silence and remembrance will be observed.

The LED torchlit descent on Thursday evening (21.02.) has been cancelled out of respect for the day of mourning in the Crans-Montana ski area, as declared by the CMA ski lift company earlier today. 

Video (in french): Johan Tachet, Ski Actu

During the Audi FIS Ladies’ World Cup races this year, visitors won’t just be able to watch passionate races, they can also enjoy entertainment which is as varied as it is exciting, and has never been seen before! All this is taking place between Thursday 21 and Sunday 24 February. Here’s a preview of what awaits: LED torchlit downhill, live DJ, Swiss Army PC-7 TEAM Air Show, fascinating air and fire shows, concerts and fireworks. Come with your friends and enjoy the huge World Cup party on the evening of Saturday 23 February. It’s taking place in the tennis centre at Le Régent Congress Centre. Appearing live will be the Genderbüebu, the best accordion quartet in Valais, and Die Jungen Zillertaler, one of the most famous folk groups in Europe. A great night out is guaranteed! ! Check out the detailed programme at /en/spectators/detaild-programme-2019/

On his return from Åre,  Marius Robyr, president of the 2019 European and World Cup races, was satisified to see that the preparation is going smoothly in all areas.

Work on the Mont Lachaux piste, supervised by Markus Murmann, the Race Director, is well underway, the A nets are in place and various sectors have been sprayed. All of this has been thanks to precious help from the heads of different sectors and their assistants, volunteers and also men from the civil protection. Promising young competitors in training have « tested » the piste. From Wednesday 13 February onwards, the military will be on duty : some 180 men from the Inf Kp 13/1 and Inf Kp 13/3 sections will be helping the Organising Committee in different domains.

The two Ladies’ European Cup races on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 February will be preceded by two training rounds (14/15.02). It will be the same for the World Cup races the following weekend, on 23 and 24 February, with training on 21 and 22 February. The FIS International Ski Federation will be carrying out its own snow control on the Mont Lachaux piste on Monday 11 February.

DEPREZphoto, cransmontana

CE et CM

The two Valais politicians, State Councillor Frédéric Favre, and Nicolas Féraud, president of the commune of Crans-Montana, arrived for their short stay at the World Championships in Åre just at the right moment. They were left thrilled, shaking even, watching the Alpine Combined in the national finish stadium during the Hitchcockian women’s slalom, which crowned Wendy Holdener from Schwyz champion for the second time, following her gold medal in St. Moritz in 2017.

 The packed « House of Switzerland » literally shook when Wendy Holdener walked in after the rounds of interviews and the medal ceremony.  The sports minister from the canton of Valais was there, ready to greet her with an immense bouquet of flowers, which was a personal initiative. In fact once  the race was over, this big ski fan set off to look for a flower shop in Åre. And he found one. He didn’t buy just one bouquet, but… 10 ! The thrilled florist didn’t say anything whilst he carefully wrapped them, arranging them in a most professional way into a magnificent basket.

Nicolas Féraud, president of the commune, wasn’t to be outdone. Confident of Wendy Holdener’s skills, he had already thought ahead and brought a magnificent box of chocolate creations from the highly renowned 2013 Swiss champion, David Pasquier, whose « David, L’Instant chocolat » brand is extremely popular in Crans-Montana, Sion and Vevey. State Councillor Favre and the president of the commune Féraud are not visiting Åre as tourists however, they are there to lead discussions and cement important relationships with influential figures in the world of skiing in relation to the Crans-Montana/Valais bid to organise the 2025 FIS World Championships. The deputy director, Hugo Steinegger, led them on a visit to every nook and cranny of the enormous infrastructure that this type of event demands today. A few figures illustrate this : 70 countries taking part, 600 athletes, 1,400 media representatives, 600 hours of television broadcasts and some 700 million tv viewers all over the world !

Crans-Montana is delighted to be able to welcome the best female skiers in the world very soon, as part of the World Cup races on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 February. The Valais Haut-Plateau resort knows how to welcome the medal-winners in style. We promise, whether it’s in the finish stadium, at the Crans-Cry d’Er car park/Bar Xerodix, at the celebration headquarters in the Violettes car park, at the Ycoor ice rink or in Le Régent tennis centre, THIS CELEBRATION OF SKIING WILL BE A GREAT ONE !

Just five days after the launch of the FIS Ski World Championships in Åre/SWE, we can confirm that building the « House of Switzerland » as a modular chalet for the first time was a great idea. This meeting point for the ski world in the heart of Åre has quite simply been a great success ! Just like the food served in it, by the chef Daniel Lehmann (Hotel-Restaurant Moosegg i. Emmental), which included some excellent produce from Valais. In the evenings, those who hadn’t already booked their tables were unable to find a place. However noone was left with an empty stomach, as it was also possible to eat from the snack menu in the adjoining bar.

Crans-Montana and Valais, with their bid for the 2025 Worlds, contributed a great deal to the creation of the « House of Switzerland » as its main partner. Hugo Steinegger, deputy executive director of the bid, hired the skills of Annalisa Gerber, Swiss-Ski Sponsoring and Events manager, and a dedicated, omnipresent and dynamic hostess who was placed in charge of the House of Switzerland for the 12^th time. « When she told us about the idea to create this chalet for the 2019 World Championships, we were very quickly convinced. Therefore we have an attractive and welcoming platform to look after our first international contacts regarding our bid», points out Hugo Steinegger. «If our 2025 bid doesn’t get any further in this first attempt, the « House of Switzerland » will be our « home » once again for the 2021 World Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo, or in 2023 in Courchevel/Méribel ».

Annalisa Gerber invites you to take a look at the « House of Switzerland » in the video below. The Crans-Montana/Valais 2025 bid committee would like to take this opportunity to thank their Valais suppliers: Domaine Jean-René Germanier (wine), Raclette du Valais AOP for the cheese, Cher-Mignon SA (dried meat) and Distillerie Morard SA, Martigny.

Video (in German/French subtitles): Johan Tachet, SkiActu

As candidate for the organisation of the 2025 World Championships, Crans-Montana/Valais has a strong presence during the race days for medals in Åre. In Sweden, the location for these global tournaments, the Valais Haut-Plateau resort is Swiss-Ski’s main partner at the « House of Switzerland », and the Swiss-Ski president Dr. Urs Lehmann is also vice-president of the bid’s strategic committee. Marius Robyr, the Valais bid’s executive director, and Hugo Steinegger, deputy director see him as a highly respected advisor, and a valuable individual in international ski politics. « The 1987 World Championships in Crans-Montana were extraordinary, unforgettable. We want to experience that again ! » says Marius Robyr, who is also president of the annual World Cup races in Crans-Montana that take place in two weeks’ time, and who is more motivated than ever.

video : Keystone-SDA/Interview in French

Swiss-Ski’s traditional « House of Switzerland », the 12^th of its kind, opened its doors this weekend for the duration of the World Ski Championships in Åre (4-17 February), and was immediately the venue for three different visits. The first was from the Swiss women’s team, who became the first to « test » the wines and delicacies from Valais on offer. Members of the Swedish Organising Committee, and House of Switzerland neighbours, were next to grace the house for Sunday morning brunch, and then at "Zürcher Geschnetzeltes" (cut meat Zurich style), it was the turn of the SRG/SSR TV and radio staff to enjoy a warm welcome.

As already mentioned several times, the Crans-Montana/Valais 2025 bid is the main partner of the « House of Switzerland », a much-appreciated public meeting place in the ski world. Its representatives in Åre, Marius Robyr (executive director) and Hugo Steinegger (deputy executive director) take their role as hosts very seriously. They would like to take this opportunity to wish Niklas Carlsson, CEO of the World Alpine Ski Championships in Åre, great success and the very best of luck for this huge event, which will hold its opening ceremony on Monday 4 February in the centre of the village (see photo of the square).  Of course Marius Robyr didn’t forget to share his very best wishes with the Swiss women’s team too, represented by Wendy Holdener and Corinne Suter. Two key characters in the House of Switzerland require little introduction; the dynamic Annalisa Gerber from Swiss-Ski, who is managing the house for the 12^th time, and Daniel Lehmann, the well-known chef who has sealed his reputation at his Hotel/Restaurant Moosegg in the Emmental region. Two raclette servers from Valais, Chris and Romuald, have travelled to complete the squad in the Far North. One thing is certain : Swiss-Ski, the Crans-Montana/Valais 2025 bid and the group of sponsors present, led by Helvetia, will be making every effort to ensure that this little corner of Switzerland will be a memorable success story.

Ouverture HoS

From competitions to artistic performances to folk music concerts, the Haut-Plateau resort will be particularly vibrant during the Ski World Cup weekend on 23 and 24 February.

"Crans-Montana on fire", is the slogan for the Ski World Cup weekend on 23 and 24 February. And not just on the pistes, it will spread throughout the Haut-Plateau resort. "We have two priorities", notes Marius Robyr, president of the organising committee. "To offer a superb show for both athletes and spectators on a  top quality piste, and also to offer entertainment that is just as special. "

Skiers on a zipline

Although Mikaela Shiffrin, Wendy Holdener, Lara Gut-Behrami, Sofia Goggia and the other female skiers will of course guarantee a show on the Mont Lachaux piste, race numbers are drawn on Friday and Saturday evening at 19.15, and the stars of the White Circus will fly into the middle of the crowd at the Ycoor Ice Rink to pick up their race numbers by zipline, a first for the top female skiers on the planet.

The Ycoor Ice Rink will also be the stage for a variety of artistic performances from 17.30 onwards on Friday and Saturday. Dancers from the Motus Module company will be presenting  their "aerial" show on Friday for the first time in Switzerland, whilst the famous Polish fire eater Jacek Witkowski, who is well-known all over the world, will be setting the atmosphere alight on both evenings.

Austrian folk music stars at the World Cup Party

The most eagerly awaited stage performance of the weekend will be the Jungen Zillertaler show. The Austrian group, who are as well known as the skier Marcel Hirscher, are amongst the best folk music groups in Europe. The trio, made up of Markus Unterladstäter, Daniel Prantl and Michael Ringler, are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their career, and have taken part in the Musikantenstadl, the biggest German-speaking music show, 35 times. They will be giving a short show as a taster at the draw for race numbers on Saturday evening, before giving an explosive concert at the World Cup Party

This World Cup Party itself starts at 7pm on Saturday with the Genderbüebu,  the best folk music group in Valais, who will be warming up the tennis centre at the Régent before the Jungen Zillertaler’s performance. Fondue, schüblings and several bars will delight the tastebuds of the hundreds of people expected for this most festive evening.

A lively village at Violettes

Information for the spectators

• Access to the races, apart from the grandstands, and to the Ycoor Ice Rink is free.
• Tickets for the grandstands (20 CHF for children and from 30 CHF for adults) can be purchased online at www.skicm-crans-montana.ch. 
• Tickets for the World Cup Party (40 CHF) can be purchased online at www.skicm-crans-montana.ch, or at Crans-Montana Tourism or at the cash desk at "Le Régent" tennis centre on the night.

SkiActu1

SkiActu2

Since the FIS 1997 World Championships in Sestrière/ITA, Swiss-Ski has run the « House of Switzerland » at every World Championships. This will also be the case, for the 12^th time, in Åre (4-17.02.). This traditional international meeting place for sponsors and partners, athletes and their entourage, media representatives and ski fans is much appreciated, and very busy.

For these reasons, the Crans-Montana/Valais bid to organise the 2025 (or 2027, or 2029) World Championships has become the main partner of the « House of Switzerland » in Sweden. CLICK ON THE PHOTO and you will find some interesting information (in French or German only) about this modular chalet located in the middle of Åre, and made up of three parts: a restaurant which holds 80 people, a bar with a stage that can welcome up to 300 people, and a kitchen with a storage area. As for the menu, created by the famous chef Daniel Lehmann, who has sealed his reputation at the Hotel Moosegg in the Emmental region and its renowned restaurant with 16 Gault Millau points, there will be no lack of delicacies and wine from the Valais.

« Varmt välkommen i Are!» - A warm welcome to Are !