After being forced to skip the 2020 edition for reasons that we are all aware of, the Friends of the Crans-Montana World Cup were finally able to meet -  for the fourth time - for a delicious raclette served at "La Bergerie du Cervin" restaurant in Vermala. This get-together was a great success, and a good opportunity to get into the mood two weeks before the start of the 2021/22 World Cup season, which will be stopping on the Valais High Plateau on 26 and 27 February 2022, and which features two downhill races programmed for "our" annual women’s classic. These events will be preceded by two European Cup downhill races, scheduled on 19 and 20 February. On Wednesday 12 January, the men will also be stopping off in Crans-Montana for a Night Slalom, by invitation only. The top specialists in the discipline will be present.

Full of imagination and humour as always, Marius Robyr, the charismatic President of the Organising Committee for the World Cup events, addressed the FRIENDS and presented the 2022 edition, not forgetting to mention the World Cup Party of course, which will see the return of the Oesch's die Dritten family, the most famous popular music group in Switzerland, to the resort. The event will take place on Saturday evening, 26 February, in the tennis centre at Le Régent Congress Centre. Tickets will be on sale from 15 November. Of course, the progress of the bid to host the 2027 Crans-Montana/Valais Alpine World Ski Championships wasn’t forgotten either.

A wood-fired raclette without traditional accordion music is simply unthinkable! The well knowned Thürler-Mosimann-Tschanz trio provided the perfect entertainment for this friendly event. The FRIENDS present once again had the honour of being the first to receive, and wear, the 2022 Crans-Montana World Cup hat, which is released in a different colour each year. The new look is a very cool white and ruby red design. It will be on sale for CHF 20.00 from 1 December 2021, from the Crans-Montana Tourism and Congress offices.

If you would also like to join the other 320 members of the Friends of the World Cup, it's very simple, just register by following the instructions here. The World Cup Steering Committee would be delighted to welcome new members.

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The top section of the Nationale downhill piste is currently undergoing work. Imposing machines have started work in the Bellalui sector, to be precise, this is exactly where the famous men's downhill jump was located in the '87 World Championships. This remodelling is necessary in order to meet the requirements of the FIS International Ski Federation on the one hand, and also in order to be able to host a Men's World Cup downhill in the future. And above all, this work is being carried out with a view to offering one of the most attractive pistes for the 2027 World Championships, for which our destination is a candidate, as explained in this video by the executive director of the bid, Marius Robyr.

Video (in French only) & Photo by drone: SkiActu

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Looking back: Men's World Cup Downhill '87 with Bellalui jump looking towards the Piste Nationale.

It's a must. At the end of every summer, the FIS International Ski Federation carries out its traditional technical inspections at the World and European Cup host sites. On Tuesday 7th September, it stopped off in Crans-Montana. Good news: in the current COVID-19 situation, the women's events that will take place this winter on the Mont Lachaux piste will finally see the return of spectators.

At the end of February, Crans-Montana will be living for speed, and has announced a truly XL programme: two women’s European Cup downhills, on the weekend of February 19 and 20 (training: 17/18.02) and one week later, on February 26 and 27, two downhills for the World Cup classic (training: 24/25.02). The latter promises to be exciting in the wake of the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. Will there be a whiff of revenge on the Haut Plateau?

The inspection took place under the guidance of Peter Gerdol, FIS Director of Women's Alpine Skiing, and Marius Robyr, President of the Crans-Montana Organising Committee. Representatives of RTS Télévision Suisse Romande, the host broadcaster of the Valais World Cup events, and Swiss-Ski were also present.

During the inspection, there was a particular focus on the topic of COVID-19, and the protection measures required by the FIS, especially for athletes and those accompanying them. Other important points were discussed, such as the position of cameras on the course, the organisation of the start and finish areas, accreditation and team accommodation. The whole event took place in excellent conditions and in a convivial atmosphere.

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The inspection group, from left to right: Patrice Morisod (OC Piste Director), Julien Baszanger (RTS Producer), Sophie Genoud (OC Coordinator), Bertrand Cassignol (CMA), Jordi Pujol (FIS European Cup Coordinator), Thierry Overnay (RTS), Franz Hofer (Swiss-Ski), Marius Robyr (OC), Markus Murmann (OC Race Director) , Dominique Morard (OC Chief Constructions) , Peter Gerdol (FIS Women's Alpine Skiing Director), Jean-Philippe Vulliet (FIS Women's Speed Group Director), Andreas Krönner (FIS Women's Alpine Technical Manager) and Beat Tschuor (Swiss-Ski Women's Alpine Chief).

Despite the pandemic which prevented the public from attending the three 2021 Women’s World Cup races in Crans-Montana, many of you followed the competition on the small screen. Never before has the event been so successful on television. These figures are all the more positive as the weather at the time was good for snow sports.

The downhill on Saturday 23 January was watched by 434,000 viewers on SRF Zwei, for a market share of 72%! The super G on Sunday 24 January was even more successful, with some 514,000 viewers in German-speaking Switzerland, representing a 71% share of the market. In percentage terms, this was quite simply the best result of the season for the World Cup races in Switzerland last winter, for both men’s and women’s together!

The increase in the number of viewers from 2020 to 2021 is spectacular, with the downhill and super G attracting 49% and 65% more people respectively. The market share for the two races increased by 7% and 21% respectively. In French-speaking Switzerland, over 80,000 people watched the races each day, for a market share of 52%.

Overall, several million people around the world followed the World Cup races in Crans-Montana, as the event was broadcast in 55 countries. The audience is growing in all territories.

We thank you warmly for your enthusiasm in front of your TV this year, and we hope to see you soon in the finish area of the Mont Lachaux piste.

The organisers of the 2022 Ski World cup races in Crans-Montana are optimistic that the event on 26/27 February will be able to take place with spectators once again. The three ghost races in January were nevertheless a great success in terms of organisation and national and international television audiences, but the atmosphere created by the ski fans and the traditional variety of entertainment alongside the races was sorely lacking.

As far as this is concerned, there is good news for the 2022 version: the most famous folk music group in Switzerland, Oesch’s die Dritten, will be presenting their promising new show as part of the World Cup Party, which will take place on Saturday 26 February at Le Régent Tennis Centre. Assuming, of course, that Covid doesn’t veto it !

Melanie Oesch and the organiser of the World Cup Party, Hugo Steinegger (photo lead), are very optimistic after signing the contract with the Oesch's. The musicians from the Bernese Oberland, who are also popular in French-speaking Switzerland, are offering their fans a nice surprise for Easter.  

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Norway’s Marte Monsen and Austria’s Maximilian Lahnsteiner took the overall ranking of the 2020/21 European Cup. The 21-year-old Scandinavian is the Slalom specialist, while the 24-year-old Austrian is more focused on speed. But the Swiss also shone brightly. 

Ralph Weber (4^th) and Simone Wild (9^th) were the best Swiss skiers this year, in this antechamber to the World Cup. However, the most important thing to remember is that three women and four men have secured permanent places in the White Circus next winter by finishing in the top three. Jasmina Suter (25, 1^st in the Super-G ), Stephanie Jenal (23, 2^nd  in the Super-G), Simone Wild (27, 2^nd  in the Giant), Stefan Rogentin (26, 1^st in the Super-G), Ralph Weber (27, 2^nd in the Super-G), Semyel Bissig (23, 2^nd in the Giant) and Marc Rochat (28, 3^rd in the Slalom) have secured their places.

As all seven skiers are already in the world’s top 60, they will not be taking World Cup places from any Swiss skiers.  They are simply entitled to an extra place, on top of the Swiss quota in their discipline. This is rather good news.

This overall result is also much better than last year’s, when only Rahel Kopp (Downhill), Jasmina Suter (Super-G) and Semyel Bissig (Combined) achieved the same result. Walter Reusser, Swiss-Ski Alpine director, was very satisfied: "Having two additional places is extremely useful, especially in the Super-G, where we are very successful, and where there is not necessarily a place for young people. It gives us some breathing space and creates opportunities for the next generation."  

The European Cup, second only to the World Cup, included a total of 56 races this winter:  30 for the men, and 26 for the women. Of these, 13 were held in Switzerland (Zinal 8, Meiringen-Hasliberg 2, Melchsee-Frutt 2, Crans-Montana 1 (the second Downhill had to be cancelled due to too much fresh snow).

While the men’s programme was fairly balanced (6 Downhills, 7 Super-G, 8 Slaloms and 8 Giants and 1 Combined), the women’s calendar was more technically oriented, with only 3 Downhills and 4 Super-G, compared to 10 Giants and 9 Slaloms. "We noticed that there is less density in the technical disciplines in Switzerland ", continues Walter Reusser. "We’re working intensively on this. The goal is to have strong teams in all disciplines. This is the only way to have a chance of winning the Nations Cup.". 

In total, Switzerland celebrated ten European Cup victories thanks to Stephanie Jenal, Jasmine Flury, Jasmina Suter, Justin Murisier, Ralph Weber, Joel Lütolf, Lars Rösti, Josua Mettler, Semyel Bissig and Stefan Rogentin). Seven of these wins took place on Swiss pistes (6 in Zinal, 1 in Crans-Montana).  

According to Walter Reusser, Switzerland’s strength in the speed sector is direct linked to the efforts made in Swiss ski resorts, and he is very pleased about this: "It is very gratifying to have lots of European Cup races in Switzerland. This creates platforms for the next generation.  Crans-Montana, as the organiser of the World Cup, European Cup and a training partner, deserves a big thank you.  Swiss-Ski greatly appreciates the fact that Crans-Montana has organised European Cup races every year since it ventured into the domain of the World Cup again in 2008, like the European Cup finals in 2009, which were a great success."

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Thanks to her victory in the European Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Jasmine Flury from the canton Grisons finished the season in fifth place in the discipline.

Michelle Gisin, the charismatic and much-loved ambassador for the 2027 Crans-Montana Alpine World Ski Championships bid, finished third in the overall World Cup standings and has once again continued to improve this winter. With her capacity for good performances in all disciplines, her future looks bright. 

It was a very emotional moment for Michelle Gisin when she took the third step of the podium in the overall World Cup ranking on Sunday. Although the skier from Engelberg is used to being part of the award ceremonies this winter, in Lenzerheide she almost took the wrong place, as she climbed up onto the second step. It’s perhaps only a matter of time before she does though, as her progress has been linear over the past few years. She has been battling it out against Petra Vlhova at the top of the rankings for a long time, but the Slovakian has finally managed to get ahead, and has now overtaken Lara Gut-Behrami, who got off to a flying start a few weeks ago.

But this season has still been “Micken’s” best in terms of results, at least in the World Cup. “Taking my place on this podium is very emotional, as I’ve been dreaming of this ever since I was a little girl", said the Swiss skier with the friendliest smile in the world. When I finished my Giant on Sunday, I was very emotional, and I was also able to share it with my family. Being on this podium, while also being 4^th in the Giant and the Slalom over the season makes me very proud. It’s really wonderful.”

Brilliant despite her fatigue

And in Graubünden, Michelle Gisin ended her season with two convincing results after a more complicated weekend in Åre. The Obwaldian climbed onto yet another podium, her 6th this winter, in the slalom and took a solid 5th place in the Giant. “The fatigue is immense, she admitted. It’s been an incredible season, ending with a great result. I fought hard today (editor’s note: Sunday), it was really intense and very difficult. And Saturday was also very special. It was my first podium place in a slalom in Switzerland, it was wonderful.”

It’s hard to find anything negative about Dominique and Marc’s sister. “This winter I took a big step forward in the Giant with these first podium places, and finishing on the box four times in the slalom has been really valuable”, she says. On top of this, I’ve rediscovered really great feeling and confidence in my speed. It’s great because every time I’ve been at the start gate, I’ve said to myself: ‘you can manage something really good’. It’s an amazing feeling. “

Are your sights set on the crystal globe?

“We would have put our name to this a year ago, to see her always up there in all the disciplines", adds her coach, Denis Wicki. “She has really put in a string of good performances, and her uphill curve should mean that she can dream of the crystal globe next season. “It’s important to continue progressing", she confirms. However I don’t think about the results straight away, but rather in terms of performance.” 

A plan made with Denis Wicki should allow her to achieve more wins and reach the top of her game. “That’s where there is a difference between the top two,” says the Olympic combined champion.  “You need to be good at speed too. But as I often say, the big Globe is not a goal, it’s more a dream. There are too many factors playing a part to say whether I’m going to get there. I already want to continue skiing at my level.” 

The Valaisan coach adds: “Michelle has to win the disciplines that she is best at, and today that is the Giant and the slalom. She has to win in both, several times, and afterwards she’ll do speed, when the conditions allow. Then she’ll have the level and the credibility to win the crystal globe, but not before then. The goal is set for next year, we’ve already talked about it. We know where we’re going.” A trip to Cerro Castor, close to Ushuaïa (ARG) is already planned this summer with certain skiers from the Swiss team to prepare for next season. Provided that the pandemic allows it, of course.

Photos: Agence Zoom

Advertising "Remerciements" in Le Nouvelliste from 26.01.2021

The week before the World Cup races in Crans-Montana, Swiss-Ski faced the cancellation of the Lauberhorn races in Wengen. The president of the Swiss skiing association, Urs Lehmann, was therefore relieved that the Women’s Classic on Mont Lachaux could take place as planned this weekend.

" I am very grateful and glad. We all know that we are in a difficult period at the moment. In Switzerland too, lots of things are coming to a standstill. But we are privileged to be able to continue practicing our sport. Thanks to Crans-Montana for being able to deal with the issues", declared a relieved Urs Lehmann.

A major commitment

The former world downhill champion from Aargau, who has been at the helm of Swiss-Ski since 2008, has a wealth of experience. But on Saturday afternoon, under the azure blue sky that dominated the Haut-Plateau, and after a magnificent downhill,  Lehmann was very enthusiastic : "The winner (editor’s note: Sofia Goggia) received 100 points for her result. But today, Crans-Montana also deserves 100 points for its efforts. Everyone’s commitment, from the president of the Organising Committee, Marius Robyr, to the many motivated volunteers, was simply top-notch”.

It is when days, and even the nights, are as tricky as last weekend, that it becomes clear if an organiser is worthy of organising the World Championships. "Crans-Montana has once again shown its impressive capabilities, and presented the best possible business card for its bid for the 2027 World Championships", continues Urs Lehmann.

The next step : making the bid official 

 For Marius Robyr, it is extremely pleasing to be congratulated in this way by Urs Lehmann. "We always do our best. It’s great when reactions are so positive". The president of the Organising Committee for the World Cup races, who is also Executive Director for the 2027 World Championship bid, intends to build on this momentum 

In a few weeks’ time, the bid for the World Championships has to be officially submitted to the International Ski Federation (FIS), and its president Gian Franco Kasper. The World Championships,  which would be the second to be held in Crans Montana after the 1987 event, are to be awarded at the FIS Congress in Portugal in May 2022.  

Video: SkiActu

Despite less than ideal weather conditions and a lot of snowfall overnight, the three speed races planned as part of the World Cup were able to be held, and ran smoothly, in Crans-Montana. "If you had told me this a week ago, I would have hardly believed it. I would even have bet with anyone that they wouldn’t take place”, admits the president of the Organising Committee, Marius Robyr.

According to the boss of the Haut-Plateau women’s "Classic", "everyone worked like crazy to make these three competitions possible". After another successful Super-G on Sunday, Marius Robyr is even happier : "The outcome for me is extremely positive.  It almost makes you forget the accumulated fatigue".

Wonderful races to reward the efforts overnight   

The night between Friday and Saturday was particularly memorable for the head of the organisation. A remarkable night followed by a magnificent day, illustrating the remarkable work of his entire team: "The alarm went off at 3 in the morning. An hour later, 180 people were working on the mountain. Firstly the piste was cleared of snow, then prepared ". These efforts overnight were worth it, "because we had a superb downhill, and the sun even came out".

Saturday also illustrated the progress that has been made in the organization of the event. "We now have an exceptional team that works very hard, as well as an Organising Committee that has really grown together, with everyone pulling in the same direction. When I look at the results, I couldn’t be more satisfied ", says the brigadier, still full of energy.

Partners and employees are thanked

Marius Robyr also takes the opportunity to thank the army and civil protection. "Without them, it would be very, very difficult to organise the World Cup races ". The ski lifts are also a key partner in the whole structure. "When I call CMA and tell them that we need gondola lifts at 4am in the morning, and a little help, they reply that it’s not a problem. So congratulations to them too ! "

And the Organising Committe president doesn’t forget to thank "the municipalities, that lend us their full support and provide considerable financial backing". The competitions in Crans-Montana also receive important contributions from the Canton of Valais, including economic aid from the Loterie Romande and the Sports Fund. "Many thanks to Swiss-Ski, to the FIS, to RTS, the host broadcaster, to our loyal partners and sponsors, and also to the media."

Video: SkiActu

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